But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. But, he said that most of these would have been present prior to his death, although he could not completely rule out the possibility that Nick had been attacked. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. 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. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. 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. Two of the victims were dismembered and disposed of in plastic bags. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; Thai beach murders: First pictures of British tourists killed The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. [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". [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. Martin Totland Frilans. Buy images; Sell images; Lightboxes; When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. 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. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. CTN News. 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. 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: joanromans.com, +49803921568627, +34972573012, +34643318517 Focs i Estufes Romans - Joan Romans Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. 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). Read about our approach to external linking. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. 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. Koh Tao Murders - Forensic Tales Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". Read about our approach to external linking. "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. 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". However, no toxicology report was conducted. Forensic report into British murders in Thailand leaked to local media 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. 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. (Washington D.C., February 27, 2023) - The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, used to prosecute "terrorism" cases in Saudi Arabia, has charged six former prominent SCC judges and four former judges of the High Court, the country's supreme court, with "high treason" - a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia - in its first secret hearing of the case on February 16, 2023, said . But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. Samyak Choudhary; and [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Luke Miller 2016; Zaw Lin, front, and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun), rear, arrive at the court in Koh Samui, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. 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. 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. Elise Dallemagne 2017; Saudi Arabia | Saudi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty against 10 Former 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise Hiroshi 2002; [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. 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. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. They followed the animal and discovered that it had been feeding on Elise's remains, which were found among rocks behind the Tanote Family Bay Resort. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. 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. Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming That is awful. Ben Harrington 2012; Suzanne Buchanan Exposes The Sinister Truth Behind "The Backpacker The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. [71], A lawyer for the men, Nakhon Chomphuchat, said "we will appeal as soon as we can, we have just got a copy of the court's verdict. 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. What the Murder of Two Young British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. 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. Koh tao murders hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy 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. 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. Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. Thai police are investigating their deaths as . Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . Chrissie's heartbroken dad Boyne Annesley started investigating more deaths in Koh Tao. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. [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. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. "At first, we accepted what the Thai authorities had said because we knew no different. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . Thailand's paradise island murder mystery - BBC News On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. 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.. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. Photograph: Alamy. [62] They were both also charged with entering the country illegally, to which Wai Phyo had already confessed. [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. View our online Press Pack. 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.. [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. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. Koh Tao Cabana - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Thailand) - Villa 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 . Rocio Gomez; [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. [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. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Floods trap up to 15,000 tourists in Thailand - NZ Herald The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. Koh Tao murders: "Person of interest" (updated Tuesday) "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. Yoshie Sazawa (Sharlyn) 2004; [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. 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. Police: Burmese men confess to killing British tourists | CNN WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH. After searching, All rights reserved. [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. It covers an area of about 21 km2. THAILAND VS INDONESIA LIVE STREAMING - latestly.com His body was found at the beach at the Hillside Resort on Koh Tao, on January 1, 2014. Only if they are not beautiful." Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". British Bricklayer Luke Miller, 26, was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on January 6, 2016. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. "So my suspicions are that it was a mugging that went wrong. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Hannah was also raped in the attack. 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. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . 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. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . "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. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. We are like one big family, weve been through this journey for the past seven years together. "[78] Another commentary in the paper stated that the "overwhelming public skepticism stems from the police's longstanding notoriety for arresting poor and powerless scapegoats to save rich criminals who can afford to buy their innocence".