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How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? The owner of a 5 star hotel in Phuket and his wife were found dead at the bottom of their hotel swimming pool on the island of Koh Tao on Friday afternoon. [15] Public prosecutors initially rejected the report, asking for "certain flaws" to be fixed, more information to be supplied, and for the report to be made "more succinct". [1] Receiving half a million visitors each year,[1] Koh Tao is especially popular with backpackers and known for its marine life and scuba diving. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Photograph: Alamy. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . Elise Dallemagne 2017; Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. [31][65] Jane Taupin, an Australian forensic scientist brought in by the defence, claimed that the timeline of DNA extraction was dubious; a rapid analysis of DNA samples had happened in less than 12 hours,[34] which she said was unusual because "extracting DNA from mixed samples was difficult and time-consuming". [1][15][21], During an hours-long interrogation, during which the police used Burmese food vendors as interpreters[35] because the pair could not speak Thai,[41] the suspects confessed to the murders. He started another business in neighboring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". An English human rights activist by the name of Andy Hall asked me to put him in touch with the Melbourne forensic expert, Jane Taupin which I did. The items were still there are 3 am and he called the police. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of his daughter's body were shown on the third day of the trial of Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo. View our online Press Pack. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. 2023 BBC. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. June 6, 2021. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. [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] Witheridge had completed undergraduate studies in education at the University of East Anglia and had started post-graduate studies in speech and language therapy at the University of Essex. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. There were no signs he was suicidal. Elise's mother Michele van Egten says she does not believe the Thai police's version of events amid fears authorities are working to suppress speculation about the many murders on the island. Buy images; Sell images; Lightboxes; Bernd Grotsch 2017; The family claimed the circumstances surrounding his death and the local police's refusal to co-operate with them have led them to believe the death is "suspicious". [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. "I have no proof that Ben was murdered. The bungalow is 50ft above the ocean, theres nothing but massive granite boulders between his bungalow and the ocean so how did he managed to tumble all the way down there? Father weeps at Thai murder photos. In August 2020, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo had their death sentences commuted to life in prison to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. [39] Following an interrogation, during which police say Zaw Lin admitted he had entered the country illegally, Zaw Lin was arrested and his clothes and motorcycle were seized as evidence. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. 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. Koh Tao murders 1 language Sairee Beach The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. Download videos of River diver on Depositphotos Millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock videos, footage and clips at affordable prices. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. Christina Annesley 2015; [44] In December 2014, the suspects were each indicted on five charges: premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offence, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. Koh Tao murders: 'Asian man' seen on CCTV sought for q uestioning Probe into murder of two Britons on Koh Tao Manhunt on Koh Tao after tourists found brutally murdere d on beach British tourists murdered, stripped on Koh Tao beach Topics: Bangkok, Features Join the Coconuts conversation with a comment. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. On Thursday the 29 th of August 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand handed down its decision to uphold the death penalties for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Burmese migrant workers found guilty of the rape and murder of British holidaymaker Hannah Witheridge and the murder of fellow countryman David Miller in September 2014 on Koh Tao in Thailand. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. [67][21][68] The conviction was primarily guided by the DNA evidence,[67][69] and the court said it did not consider their confessions in making the judgement. The murders on Koh Tao, a laid-back haven for divers, sullied Thailand's image in the tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 per cent of the country's economy. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. We are here for David because of his tragic death. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. She added: The families of all the victims are not happy with the police reports, autopsy reports in Thailand dont match autopsy reports in the UK. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); September 23, 2014 5:57 AM EDT T he brutal murder of British tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on the Thai resort island of Koh Tao, has reverberated around the world.. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop by scuba divers in the sea after he disappeared following a night out with his family on New Year's Eve. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. Although both of his hands were tied behind the back, the police said he could have done this himself as the rope was tied to one hand and a loop was made so the other hand could be inserted. A. Kadyrov Hotels near Museum of the Chechen Republic Hotels near The Flower Park Hotels near Visit Chechnya Hotels near Grozny City Observation Deck Hotels near Church of Archangel Michael Hotels near Makhmud Esambayev Avenue Hotels near Museum of Akhmat Khadzhy Kadyrov Hotels near Monument to the Fighters of the . [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Read about our approach to external linking. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. World put on alert as deadly virus spreads, Hundreds dead in horror cough syrup tragedy. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Available for both RF and RM licensing. 2040 / 2557", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koh_Tao_murders&oldid=1135707447, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 10:00. Doubts lingered over the conviction of two migrant Burmese workers for the rape and murders, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. Koh Tao is in the Chumphon Archipelago. A Thai/Indian couple circa June 2021. [4], The victims of the murders were Hannah Witheridge, a 23-year-old from Hemsby, England, and David Miller, a 24-year-old from Jersey, a Crown Dependency. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. [36] Footage near the crime scene also showed one of the three men running into a shortcut. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. And at least six young Brits have all died in suspicious circumstances on the small island of Koh Tao, leading their loved ones to label it "Death Island". [79] Rumours began to circulate, with residents on the island saying the island is controlled by a mafia who "have information about the true culprits", and claimed that the police is covering for them. It is always challenging to bring ACCURATE & RELIABLE information about violent crime on Koh Tao because too many people are frightened to speak out publicly and still others try to SHOOT THE MESSENGERS . The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. 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". [51][56][57] They argued that the defendants, since they were vulnerable as illegal migrant workers, were scapegoated by the police for the crime. Hanspeter Suter 2014; She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. CTN News. Or is Koh Tao just unlucky for visitors or is there something more sinister happening on the beautiful Thai island and haven for Scuba divers? The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. Pathologists and legal experts criticised the police for mishandling the evidence, allowing contamination of the crime scene and failing to use experts to collect forensic evidence. Koh Tao is a small and beautiful island in Southern Thailand, approximately 21 km, 30 km north of Koh Phan Gan and about 70 km from the Chumphon town. Bergen Area, Norway. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". They claim they did not receive an autopsy report and say his body was sent against their wishes to the same Bangkok hospital that carried out botched reports on the bodies of two Brits murdered on the same island in 2014. In accepting the 2nd retrial plea, sought by the family of Hiromu Sakahara, who died of illness aged 75 while serving his term in 2011, the Osaka High Court said . Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. As the Witheridge family prepares for Hannahs funeral, her parents, Sue and Tony Witheridge, released this statement: Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear. Their explanations as to why these kids have died just dont add up- you dont have to be a pathologist or a doctor to know what weve been told is nonsensical.. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. Hannah was also raped in the attack. The father of murdered British backpacker Hannah Witheridge has wept as graphic photos of her body lying on a Thai beach were shown in court. The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. Again when Christina Annesley died police didnt interview the last person she was seen with while she was alive. [66], On 24 December 2015, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were found guilty of murdering Witheridge and Miller by the three judges, and were sentenced to death. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. "Another one of my sons was there with him, he was absolutely distraught looking at the police just laughing at him. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. The reporter was forced to leave the country she lived in for 20 years after Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant accusing her of publishing false information and violating the computer crime law.. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. They had no prior criminal records. Only if they are not beautiful." [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. Four months later, eight bodies were found after a cartel murder spree. [30] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission said "the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the two Myanmar workers were dubious, leading to impressions the suspects were not aware of their rights and that justice had not been done". [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. Photo from Sept 15 showing a police officer questioning Christopher Alan Ware, who has re-emerged as a leading suspect in the murder of a young British man and woman on Koh Tao on Monday in. Koh Tao Murder - Thai Police, their scapegoats and tourist trade - Exposed by AnonymousThis video goes into the deep facts of the recent Koh Tao Island murder of David Miller and Hannah. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. Thai police are investigating their deaths as . For other inquiries, Contact Us. [1] After initially failing to find a match to one of the migrant workers, the police focused their attention on Western tourists related to the victims. 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. 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. https://time.com/3955081/thailand-koh-tao-murder-david-miller-hannah-witheridge-zaw-lin-wai-phyo-burma-myanmar/, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/dark-side-koh-tao-seven-10708561, https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/true-crime-in-the-outdoors/tag/Cases+on+the+Death+Island+of+Koh+Tao, https://www.nist.gov/feature-stories/dna-mixtures-forensic-science-explainer. Many raised concerns that contamination cast doubt upon the forensic evidence: officials, journalists and tourists were seen walking around the crime scene, and Thai police did not use trained or independent specialists to collect forensic evidence. "At first, we accepted what the Thai authorities had said because we knew no different. He originally moved to the island in the late 1990s but left in 2016 after becoming frustrated with the corruption and hostility towards foreign business owners. The former founder of the Samui Times suggests in her new book The curse of the Turtle, released earlier this month by WildBlue Press, that something fishy is going on on that island., She challenges the validity of the investigations conducted by the Thai police claiming she has a lot of evidence and speaks of powerful local families running the island without having to comply with any laws. The family has contested the police version of events. The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . [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]. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. They also found a suicide note at the scene. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. While his death was ruled as suicide cops could not explain why his hands are tied behind his back. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/world/asia/thailand-koh-tao-death-island.html#:~:text=But%20among%20some%20foreigners%2C%20Koh,began%20calling%20it%20Death%20Island.&text=She%20accused%20the%20police%20of,up%20crime%20on%20the%20island. The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. Find the perfect agent pastime stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. The pictures, which News Corp Australia will not reproduce, were taken on the beach at Koh Tao, where the pair was hacked to death with a garden hoe, allegedly by two Burmese men who confessed to the bloody crime then withdrew their confessions. Now their families are demanding answers. Hannah Witheridge 2014; The governor of the island said he had instructed the district chief to file criminal charges against the local online news outlet Samui Times in 2017 after it ran an article that questioned the police account of deaths and referred to Koh Tao as Death Island. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. Rockefeller Audio 2022. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Dark side of Koh Tao: The seven tourists found dead on Thailand's 'murder island' after backpacker 'eaten by lizards' Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of. Burmese migrant workers made up an additional 5,000, around 2,000 of these being illegal immigrants who bribe local police by paying 500 baht each month. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Create an account. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. [95] The mayor of the island, Chaiyan Turasakul, announced a new police station and staffed it with 40 full-time officers, compared to five previously. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. [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. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. The authorities said he had died after striking the diving board from which he was jumping. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. Buchanan told the Sun Online: They all died in really mysterious circumstances- the Thai version of Christina Annesleys death was that she died of natural causes, she's 23! Two migrant workers from Myanmar on death row for the 2014 murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao have had their sentences commuted to life in . [59] The defence struggled to find members of the public willing to testify at the trial, as many feared retribution,[1][60] hence their alibi was not considered convincing by the court. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. Theres a disproportionate amount of suspicious deaths on that island- and the link is that none of the families believe the police investigation or the information theyve been given.