THE BEST Kurunegala Forests (with Photos) - Tripadvisor Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2023? - Traveltomtom.net The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. Ben Harrington 2012; There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. 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. He started another business in neighboring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. June 6, 2021. [80][81], The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said "[foreign female tourists] think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: joanromans.com, +49803921568627, +34972573012, +34643318517 Focs i Estufes Romans - Joan Romans Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. CONFESSION WITHDRAWN: Burmese suspect claims he was beaten, tortured by police. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. "There was no compassion at all- he had to go down to identify the body which he couldn't do and while he was sitting there the police were just laughing. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. Koh Tao is in the Chumphon Archipelago. 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 He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. "They did a visual post-mortem - just by looking at him they said he died of a broken neck and that his face was looking towards his back. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. [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". Two weeks later, two illegal Burmese migrant workers were blamed for the deaths, primarily on the basis of DNA evidence, and confessed following an hours-long interrogation. [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask that Hannah be allowed a well-deserved day of privacy on Friday whilst we join her many friends in a celebration of her life.. [55], The defence claimed that the investigation was flawed due to mishandling of forensic evidence, lack of legal representation during interrogations, use of threats and intimidation to secure a confession, and intimidation of witnesses. As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannahs party, our thoughts are with David Millers family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. [1][15][16] Miller's body was found floating in the water, and Witheridge's on the beach;[17] the bodies lay approximately 20 metres apart and 30 metres away from their hotel (Ocean View Bungalows). Floods trap up to 15,000 tourists in Thailand - NZ Herald He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. In 2014, Koh Tao was the site of the brutal double murders of two British backpackers, but theirs weren't the only suspicious backpacker deaths. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . [1][11][18] A bloody hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, and a wooden club were found near the bodies,[19][4][14] along with three cigarette butts and a used condom. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. Koh Tao murders 1 language Sairee Beach The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Bernds family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said that the authorities told them he had died of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? Thai murders: Backpacker killers face execution | Herald Sun World put on alert as deadly virus spreads, Hundreds dead in horror cough syrup tragedy. None of the families believe that the way the police said they died is actually how they died and they are all very unhappy with the investigation. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. 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. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. 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. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. There were no signs of fighting or a struggle, nor were foreign objects or substances that could cause loss of consciousness found in the body.. 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. 7 Reasons to stay at Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli 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. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. [42][48] Amnesty International stated that Thailand "must initiate an independent, effective and transparent investigation into mounting allegations of torture and other ill-treatment by police". 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. [37] Two weeks after the bodies were found, on 1 October 2014, police interrogated Mau Mau, who said he took the motorcycle and separated from the other two men before the murders occurred, and found them both home asleep by the time he had returned. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. Police investigators have released photographs and clearer video footage of an unidentified man they believe could be a key to resolving the Koh Tao double-murder case and are asking the. 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 . [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. After unsuccessfully trying to find their possessions, they walked towards Mau Mau's house through the shortcut, which resulted in them being caught on CCTV. 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. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, of Jersey were bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel room late at night on September 15, 2014, on the popular Sairee Beah. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. Defence lawyers had asked for the samples to be independently verified but have now been told there is nothing left of them to re-test. Thailands prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, questioned the attire and behavior of foreign female tourists shortly after the killing of two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island in 2014. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. [58] Ostensibly, Wai Phyo changed jobs at the end of September and was travelling by boat to Surat Thani for his new job on the day he was arrested. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. 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. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. Most mainstream media provide only superficial accounts of what has been happening on the island and their published information is often inaccurate and understated the seriousness of the situation. Death sentences in Koh Tao killings commuted. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? 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. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court "Another one of my sons was there with him, he was absolutely distraught looking at the police just laughing at him. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. It would be impossible, some of the boulders are so big they would have stopped him but he didnt have a single broken bone. 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. Hannah Witheridge was seen walking through Koh Tao with a group of friends - all of whom are thought to be British - just hours before being brutally murdered +17 View gallery The 23-year-old. Investigators had no theory to explain her unexpected stopover on Koh Tao on her way back to the mainland and the capital Bangkok. [42][43] The police said the suspects' DNA matched a sample of semen taken from Witheridge's body, and to the hoe and cigarette butts found near the body. The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The university graduate, who was two weeks into a four-month backpacking trip round South East Asia, was found dead on her bungalow in January 2015. 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. [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. Thailand's dark side: why you really shouldn't visit Koh Tao It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Through their own investigation, and talking to witnesses Mr. Annesley discovered that the room where his daughter was staying was given to someone else "three hours after her body was taken. 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 . Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. [21][73], The death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment on 14 August 2020 following a royal decree to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and "illustrate the king's clemency". [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. [1] Police revealed that the samples from Witheridge's body were used up,[62][27] but were able to provide DNA samples from the murder weapon. They told me 'you need to stop reporting on it if you want to stay here, they are getting fed up with you now, No one put a gun to my head but I was told by multiple sources that if I didnt stop reporting on it thered be trouble- it wasnt safe for me anymore.". He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. Shocked cries in Ko Tao billionaire's death - Thai Examiner The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. 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. Six weeks on . Download videos of River diver on Depositphotos Millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock videos, footage and clips at affordable prices. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. 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. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. Resting in the Gulf of Thailand, a two-hour ferry ride north of Koh Samui, Koh Tao is best known for its incredible marine life, which over the years has attracted a small but buoyant expat. We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". What really happened there? The families of the young Brits who mysteriously lost their lives in Koh Tao have vowed to find out the truth and say something dodgy is going on., The grieving families have formed a support group following the death of their children on the Thai island, dubbed death island.. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. I should add that I was not representing the accused men so I am not presenting arguments on their behalf in any lawyer/client relationship. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, Thai police covered up what really happened, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. Date: July 24, 2022. Police major general, Surachate Hakparn, said in an interview that the police have cracked down on crime syndicates on Koh Tao since the backpackers double killing. The university graduate, who was two weeks into a four-month backpacking trip round South East Asia, was found dead on her bungalow in January 2015. News back pack murders in koh tao 2014 koh tao koh tao island mystery news in Thailand Thaiger news thailand thailand crime Thailand News thailand tourist thailand tourist . They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. The hearing was told that a post-mortem examination in Thailand showed that Mr Miller had a number of small bruises on his face and legs and gave a cause of death of head injuries and drowning. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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! [51][56][57] They argued that the defendants, since they were vulnerable as illegal migrant workers, were scapegoated by the police for the crime. Elise Dallemagne 2017; "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Agent pastime hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. [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. Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. Read about our approach to external linking. 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.. I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. His body was found at the beach at the Hillside Resort on Koh Tao, on January 1, 2014. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. [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. Koh Tao ''Turtle Island'' or Ko Tao is an island in Thailand and is part of the Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. How to go BANGKOK to KOH TAO? Tickets | 2023 - Northern Vietnam The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. Rocio Gomez; The mum of Ben Harrington Pat was never convinced by the local police's explanation that her 32-year-old son broke his neck when he crashed into an electricity pylon on a night-time moped ride in August 2012. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. Controversy of Koh Tao murders - coconuts.co Mr Zaw and Mr Wai (also known as Win Zaw Htun), both 22 and migrants from Myanmar, also known as Burma, were arrested several weeks later. Book Koh Tao Cabana, Koh Tao on Tripadvisor: See 884 traveller reviews, 2,154 candid photos, and great deals for Koh Tao Cabana, ranked #14 of 194 hotels in Koh Tao and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Thai beach murders: First pictures of British tourists battered to death on island The victims of the attack in Koh Tao have been named as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth. Wealth Businessman and Wife Found Dead in Koh Tao Resort Pool Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. Koh Tao Murders March 28, 2022 courtneyjfretwell Uncategorized 1 Comment In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. 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It was said the pair went swimming on the same beach earlier that night, and when they got out of the water they found their clothes had disappeared. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Koh Tao--a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by pristine beaches, swathed in sunshine, and a mecca for tourists, divers and backpackers. British backpacker murders: Anonymous hacks Thai police websites in Koh Tao: Millionaire couple found dead on Thailand's Death Island Hell in Paradise: of Margaritas and Murders - UNRESERVED 1. The Backpacker Murders Of Koh Tao. What Really Happened There? [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. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. We are here for David because of his tragic death. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. [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. Only if they are not beautiful." Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. Thai police are investigating their deaths as . Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. It followed her reporting on the case of a British girl who was allegedly raped on the same beach. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. 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.