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. 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. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2023? - Traveltomtom.net 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. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. 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. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. It would be impossible, some of the boulders are so big they would have stopped him but he didnt have a single broken bone. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". [72] The Supreme Court of Thailand upheld the sentence in August 2019, stating that the police handled the case correctly and the forensic evidence was "clear, credible, and detailed". Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is steeped in paradoxes. 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. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. [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.
Koh Tao Murders - Forensic Tales Valentina Novozhenova 2017; It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. A Japanese high court approved Monday a posthumous retrial for a man who was convicted of murdering a 69-year-old woman in 1984 in western Japan, upholding a lower court's decision. These included backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, who were found murdered on the . [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. 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 . Find the perfect agent pastime stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. 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. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Samyak Choudhary; and 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. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. "Then I started thinking what's going on here?". 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. "So my suspicions are that it was a mugging that went wrong. Hannah was also raped in the attack. 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. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. We admit that in the past, there was a mafia there that took advantage of tourists. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. 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. Ms Taupin did note however that the document that the prosecution relied upon was an Unendorsed Report in that it had no seal or stamp certifying that it had been produced by an accredited laboratory and in accordance with international standards.
Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia "I got him home and they had a proper postmortem - most of his bones were broken but the one bone that wasn't broken was his neck and there was no evidence of his face looking towards his back. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.".
Saudi Arabia | Saudi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty against 10 Former Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. 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. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. And on Koh Tao there are around 5,000 Burmese conspicuous by the golden streaks of thanaka paste, a traditional sunscreen and beauty product, garnishing their cheeks who build hotels, sweep. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. 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.
Thailand's paradise island murder mystery continues to baffle police, BBC's south-east Asia correspondent reports from Koh Tao. Thai police are investigating their deaths as . She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. 2023 BBC. Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet. He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence.
Suzanne Buchanan Exposes The Sinister Truth Behind "The Backpacker I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. 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. 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? Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED Aliki Kraterou Published: 13:58, 19 Mar 2022 Updated: 15:34, 19 Mar 2022 The. [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. The bricklayer from Newport, Isle of Wight, was found at the bottom of the pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach in January 2016. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK.
Date set for judgement on Koh Tao murder suspect case In pictures: Thailand beach murders Show all 12 It has also been claimed that vital DNA evidence linking the two suspects to the death of Miss Witheridge no longer exists - so cannot be retested.. Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; The Koh Samui Provincial Court has set 24 December as the date to deliver its judgement on two Myanmar men, Zaw Lin and Zaw Ein Htun (aka Wai Phyo), who are accused of murdering two British tourists on Thailand's Koh Tao Island on September 15 last year. Koh tao murders Stock Photos and Images (50) See koh tao murders stock video clips RM 2D0FFR6 - A police searches for clues near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao September 19, 2014. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet.
Police: Burmese men confess to killing British tourists | CNN Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. [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. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. Download videos of River diver on Depositphotos Millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock videos, footage and clips at affordable prices. The father-of-ones family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said at the time they did not believe the authorities' claims that hedied of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake.. 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. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. [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. Hanspeter Suter 2014;
We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. 92 Visitor.
Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Sutheerakhun, director of the Institute of Forensic Science at Police General Hospital in Bangkok, said There were wounds around the neck due to the hanging and some non-fatal bruises in the head, and no drugs were found in the body. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. They also found a suicide note at the scene. But they were skeptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH.
Martin Totland - Wedding Photographer - Ivory Grove | LinkedIn The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. Thailand is one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations with around 35 million visitors each year and promotes itself as the Land of Smiles. The government is sensitive to criticism that could undermine the countrys reputation. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. 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. 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 . Bernd Grotsch 2017; With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife.
Murder of two backpackers on the island of Koh Tao UK reporter Suzanne Buchanan has thoroughly investigated the cases alongside the deaths of Belgian Elise Dellemange, Swiss Hans Peter Suter and French Dimitri Povse -who also were also found dead under mysterious circumstances. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders.
THAILAND VS INDONESIA LIVE STREAMING - latestly.com Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones. Hannah Witheridge 2014; 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. The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. [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. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. A 28-year-old British guy. There were no witnesses. "I have no proof that Ben was murdered. 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. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. [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. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. [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. Rocio Gomez; Create an account. 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. He also had given no indications before his death, that he had suicidal thoughts.
Koh Tao murders: "Person of interest" (updated Tuesday) She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so.
Koh Tao Cabana - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Thailand) - Villa Chrissie's heartbroken dad Boyne Annesley started investigating more deaths in Koh Tao. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. 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". 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 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". [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. [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. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. All times AEDT (GMT +11). The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. A woman Povse had been interested in said he had called her twice on the phone that night but she had not picked up because she had been asleep. "At first, we accepted what the Thai authorities had said because we knew no different. The hoe was then used to knock Witheridge unconscious, after which the defendants used force to hold her down and took turns raping her, before killing her with the hoe. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. 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. Six weeks on . Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. We'll be dignified for David. 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 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.. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. Two of the victims were dismembered and disposed of in plastic bags. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. [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". The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. [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". [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. Hiroshi 2002; A mistake that many forensic experts say jeopardized the entire investigation.Throughout the investigation and criminal trial, the Thai government and police were heavily criticized by human rights organizations, legal experts, and the media. British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead Monday, September 15, on a beach in Koh Tao, a popular resort island in Thailand. 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 . 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.
The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. [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. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. Hi there! However, no toxicology report was conducted. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? 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. 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.