The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September last year. Read More: Dilleen Hempel Murder: Who Killed Her? Zaw and Wai were each indicted on five charges, including premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offense, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission. Because we have learned for generations to take care of visitors. A brand new police station has been built with 40 full-time officers replacing the five previously based here. The brutality of the incident shook the islands and its tourists and residents as the investigators began their probe under immense media and political pressure. The family travelled to see parts of the subsequent trial of the two young Burmese migrant workers accused of the murders, partly paid for by a crowdfunding appeal set up to cover the costs of travel and translation at the hearings. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. But the sheer ubiquity of drugs on Koh Tao suggests at the very least a high toleration of the trade. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. Wai was also convicted of theft and pled guilty to entering the country illegally, while Zaw was not charged since he held a work permitfor the two years preceding the murders. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. [76], The International Commission of Jurists said "the defense must be afforded adequate time and facilities to explore whether the alleged destruction of evidence in this case was appropriate and unavoidable, and to test the prosecution case overall." There was so much he could be doing with his life, and having it cut short is unbelievably cruel. Read about our approach to external linking. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. Credit: British Foreign Office That's when the killers pounced. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. The country's prime minister, who had been phoning the national police chief daily for updates on the investigation, said "this should not have happened at all, as it will affect Thailand in the eyes of the international community". The family said it had brought to a close a "lengthy and disturbing period" where activists on social media had attempted to influence justice in Thailand and public opinion elsewhere. According to the BBC, staff from the British embassy left for Koh Tao soon after the news broke of the murders. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object, resulting in head and face wounds. She added, She always got along well on placement. David Miller is from the island of Jersey in the English channel between the United Kingdom and France. The convictions were mired in controversy, with supporters of the two men arguing they had been framed because their initial confessions were made under duress. The family of a British backpacker killed in Thailand have welcomed a decision to commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison. (Both families declined to comment when contacted by TIME.). [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. Mr and Mrs Miller, from St Helier, said: "Every moment we miss our son. But in the early hours of 15 September last year the pair, who were together on the beach after leaving a nearby bar, died next to each other in the most horrific circumstances. As the local government was concerned about how the incident would affect the tourism prospects, the officials allegedly forced the detectives intoexpediting the investigation into the murders. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. [3] The murders were the first cases of homicide on the island in over eight years. Two Burmese migrants were convicted over the killings of Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey, in 2015. On tiny Koh Tao alone, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. The DNA analysis in the case, which was not subject to independent oversight or verification, was provided to the court as a one-page summary with four supporting pages, some of it handwritten with amendments. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. The balcony of room A5 at Ocean View Bungalows commands one of the finest vistas of Koh Taos sweeping Sairee Beach. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. The only items still available for retesting were objects found around the crime scene, including the suspected murder weapons, but one witness claimed that these had been washed. Ive not been threatened, but Ive too much to lose, he says. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. The investigators raided Mau Maus home on October 2 and arrested one of the men named Zaw Lin. Koh Tao is very safe, says Mayor Chaiyan. Witheridge is a native of Great Yarmouth in the Southwest coast of England. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. Burmese bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of murder in 2015. The investigators claimed the semen sample retrieved from Hannahs body and the forensic evidence found on the murder weapons and cigarette butts matched their DNA samples. The BBC reports that police in the area believe the man has already escaped Koh Tao. Pensions and incomes that would be less than optimum in Europe, say, or North America, can fund a life of carefree hedonism in Thailand. "The final admittance of their guilt has allowed this act of clemency to become possible," they continued. Around three weeks ago, on September 15, their bodies were found together . Torture allegations aside, the proceedings have been peppered with oddities. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. So, if youre interested in finding out more about the case, including the perpetrators identities, heres what we know. According to reports, the bodies were partially clothed, and the officers also located three cigarette butts and a used condom nearby. He was travelling Southeast Asia with a friend after completing a six-week work placement in Australia with a mining company,[6][8][9] and arrived in Thailand in August. The families of Miller and Witheridge even put out a statement saying the evidence against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo was powerful and convincing. This assertion was facilitated by the U.K. Foreign Office despite being prejudicial toward the possibility of a fair trial. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". Like the Millers, the Witheridge family initially offered no comment on worries about a miscarriage of justice after the arrested men said they had been tortured to extract confessions. They were at the bar with around 50 people mostly foreign tourists before they left together after 1:00 am. The DNA specialist conceded the perpetuators could've used gloves. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? But many have concerns that the scene was contaminated immediately after the discovery of the bodies; myriad officials, journalists and even bewildered tourists were seen traipsing through the area while evidence was still being gathered. Home; Service. In a statement, Ian and Sue Miller, who have campaigned against the death penalty, said: "We are grateful to His Majesty the King of Thailand for showing his clemency to the murderers of our son David. My father died when I was very young, says Zaw Lin, so l left school aged 8 and started helping my mother in the fields when I was 10. Facing worsening poverty, around two years ago he paid a broker 5,000 baht ($150) to transport him to Koh Tao, heartened by tales hed heard of fellow villagers who had eked out a successful living there. But Koh Tao was a political penal colony from 1933 until 1947, and a sense of self-sufficiency and isolation exists to this day. The pairs trial began on July 8, 2015, with the prosecution highlighting the DNA evidence and police findings as their primary strategy. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about justice on Koh Tao. She was a real natural with them.. White sand beaches, untouched jungles, cloudless skies. (Facebook). Read about our approach to external linking. To be able to work on Koh Tao, illegal Burmese migrants paid a 500-baht ($15) bribe each month, plus another 500 baht if they want to use a motorbike without a Thai driving license. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. The episode tries to deconstruct the complex case for the listeners as it narrates the incidents chronologically and questions several alleged incompetencies in the murder probe. [34][35], According to the prosecution in the subsequent case, CCTV footage analysed by the police showed three individuals riding a motorcycle to 7-Eleven, where they bought beer and cigarettes, before going towards Sairee Beach. Few of the visitors on Sairee Beach today are even aware the murders took place. Zaw and Wai were subjected to hours-long interrogation sessions, with the police using Burmese food vendors as interpreters since the pair did not speak Thai. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. islands volcanic inception. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. [31] Media reports speculated that was because the defence was wary of calling on foreign experts fearing it could appear as undermining the Thai justice system, and could bias the judges against their case. [35][84] Despite not initially being permitted to assist with the investigation,[33] British police observers including homicide detectives from the Metropolitan Police and a forensics expert were eventually permitted into Thailand to observe the investigation. However, the death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment following a royal decree commemorating King Vajiralongkorns birthday. Only if they are not beautiful." Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey, were bludgeoned to death. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. Their sentences have been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". However, the defense counsel argued all the evidence against the defendants was circumstantial, and the police had no known eyewitness to the murders. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital But the seemingly idyllic paradise of Koh Tao, once known as Turtle Island, has turned from beauty to horror as a string of brutal murders and unexplained disappearances have rocked the community [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. Dilleen Hempel Murder: Who Killed Her? Thailands tourist industry is already reeling from the effects of marital law. He was brought in for questioning on October 1, and he stated he was not present when the murders took place. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. That would be absolutely in his character.. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are two of an estimated 2 million irregular Burmese migrants, along with smaller numbers from neighboring Cambodia and Laos, currently working low-paid jobs in comparatively thriving Thailand. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Her housemate Lucy Dunkley said, No one could say a bad word about her. They partied together, with the couple last seen together at a local bar called AC Bar with friends on September 14. Police and court systems were hacked or taken offline in the following days, and a stash of personal information obtained from the court's servers was posted publicly. [77], An opinion piece in Bangkok Post wrote that "practically no one believes [Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo] really brutally murdered English tourists", adding "in Thai media of all kinds, the consensus is that Win and Zaw Lin are scapegoats. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about j [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. One of Wai Phyos former employers, who saw him soon after Sept. 15 and noticed no perceivable change in his demeanor, has refused to be a character witness or be named by TIME. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. However, a lawyer for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo told the BBC that the pair had not admitted their guilt when their death sentences were commuted. Thai king commutes sentence of UK pairs killers, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies. Others labor for long hours under the burning sun farming pineapples, exposed to hazardous doses of pesticides and other chemicals. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, "This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao", "Links revealed between police and migrants on Koh Tao", "Police: Still no suspect in killings of Britons on idyllic Thai island", "Thai king commutes death sentence of UK pair's killers", "Thailand: Hannah Witheridge 'raped by two men before being killed', "Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two lives cut short", "Thailand murders: Victims' families talk of senseless killings", "Hannah Witheridge's family pay tribute to "beautiful, intelligent, loving young woman", "British backpackers murdered in Thailand named as Hannah Witheridge and David Miller", "Thailand murders: Amnesty International call for police torture probe", Koh Samui Provincial Court No. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. I think my lasting memory of him will be his smile, wonderful sense of humor, and ability to put his ideas across with conviction and thoughtfulness. David, then 24, had recently graduated in civil and structural engineering from the University of Leeds and planned onstarting a masters degree. They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. These samples purportedly match those retrieved from Witheridges corpse. With no leads or suspects, the police wildly speculated who the culprit might be as they alleged several individuals to be the supposed killer without any evidence. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. Ill never meet anyone like her. Lucy and Hannah were both receiving training to help people with speech difficulties, and Lucy said Hannah wanted to go on to work with children. [1], A defence team from Bangkok, composed of nearly 20 lawyers, were only permitted half an hour to meet the men; a request by the defence to delay the hearing and allow more time to prepare was denied by a judge at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. mi.) The 18-day trial of the two defendants, divided into three equal parts over several weeks, began on July 8. Hannah Witheridge (left), 23, and David Miller, 24, were killed on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September 2015. A royal decree said the sentences had been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday on 28 July and to "illustrate the king's clemency". Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. [1][96], Although tourist arrivals to Koh Tao dropped in the months immediately following the murders, there was little lasting effect on tourism to the island.[92]. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 22-year-old ethnic Rakhine from Burmas restive Arakan state, were arrested on Oct. 2. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Some work on fishing boats for years without seeing land, getting passed between trawlers, catching fish, squid and shrimp for American dinner tables. Their bodies were found close to the beach bungalows where they had been staying. Greg Shepherd, 34, from Luton in the U.K., tells TIME he witnessed a man getting shot in the face in a bar north of Sairee Beach in the mid-2000s. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. These rocks are no strangers to explosive secrets. However, the investigators quickly dismissed him as a suspect. Death Island podcast follows the Koh Tao murders, which created an international frenzy when two young British tourists, Hannah Witheridge, and David Miller, were found murdered in September 2014. The Daily Telegraph reports that the two were seen leaving a bar at around 1 a.m. Sky News reports that Witheridge had been traveling with three friends. It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, a seaside town on the English east coast, had been raped and killed by blows to the head. Forensic evidence is processed independently in the U.S. or U.K. and many other jurisdictions around the world, safeguarding a proper chain of custody. David Miller, 24. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in September 2014, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of the murders in a Thai court and originally sentenced to death, The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Magazines, Digital Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in Thailand in 2014 Aug 17, 2020 Rex The two Burmese men who were jailed for killing British backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David. At one establishment by Chalok Baan Chao, joints are sold for 200 baht ($6) while a magic mushroom milkshake costs 700 baht ($20). [15], Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo retracted their statements following a visit from a consular lawyer for Myanmar and said they had made their statements under duress, after they had allegedly been beaten, left naked in a freezing room, and threatened with electrocution and an extrajudicial killing. [7][12], Miller and Witheridge were last seen at a bar called AC Bar[13] with friends at a party on Sunday night with around 50 people mostly foreign tourists before they left together after 1am. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. [83] A 2016 study said the case, which it described as a litmus test of Thailand's justice system, "seriously damaged the image of Thailand and of its forces of law and order on the global level".

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