david miller and hannah witheridge

Murderers of Brit backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller to be [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". The families that run the island and police that guard it deny any involvement with narcotics. British backpacker Thailand murders: What happened to David Miller and [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. Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby, Norfolk and Mr Miller, a civil and . [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. They had only been in the country for days before they were murdered. 23 Sep 2014. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. [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. hannah witheridge and david miller - diyalab.com . Her family described her asvivacious and someone who loved living.Hannah was due to return to her postgraduate Speech and Language Therapy course at Essex University after her summer break. This was very different. According to reports, the investigators had allegedly left them unclothed in freezing rooms and threatened to electrocute them. [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 pairs trial began on July 8, 2015, with the prosecution highlighting the DNA evidence and police findings as their primary strategy. 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. Thai king commutes Myanmar men's death sentence over Britons' murder On Sept. 15, one of the occupants of that same room A5, Hannah Witheridge, was found bludgeoned to death in their midst alongside fellow British tourist David Miller, just a short stumble from her door. But the sheer ubiquity of drugs on Koh Tao suggests at the very least a high toleration of the trade. Hannah met David Miller by chance when they and their friends stayed in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, a small backpacker complex overlooking the white sand sweep of Sairee beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Her housemate Lucy Dunkley said, No one could say a bad word about her. Hannah metDavid Miller by chance when they and their friends stayed in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, a small backpacker complex overlooking the white sand sweep of Sairee beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The crimes brutality amid Koh Taos insular, backpacker charm caused an international sensation and threatened to further weaken a tourist industry already reeling from the military coup of May 22, 2014, which saw hundreds arbitrarily detained and draconian new controls imposed on freedom of speech and assembly. Sister, 30, of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge dies [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]. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. The family of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge has been hit by a fresh tragedy with the sudden death of her sister. [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. 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. Far from official oversight, de facto control falls to the owners of booming hospitality businesses that were developed on land originally obtained, via government concessions, for coconut plantations. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found on a beach in Koh Tao in September 2014 Two Burmese migrants convicted over the killings had their death sentences reduced to life. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have been named as the two tourists who chopped up by a hoe in Thailand. Wai Phyo says officers removed his clothes and left him naked in a freezing room for 20 minutes. Telegraph.co.uk. She was a real natural with them.. Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Mr Miller's family said they were "grateful" to the Thai king. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Case over Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's deaths on Thai island Analytical Services; Analytical Method Development and Validation And right in the foreground, rising proudly from sliver sands, protrude a scattering of granite boulders, a furtive relic of this tranquil 21-sq-km (8 sq. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are two of an estimated 2 million irregular Burmese migrants, along with smaller numbers from neighboring Cambodia and Laos, currently working low-paid jobs in comparatively thriving Thailand. Death Island podcast follows the Koh Tao murders, which created an international frenzy when two young British tourists, Hannah Witheridge, and David Miller, were found murdered in September 2014. But come on. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Since then, he had managed to send back almost $2,000 to help his destitute family. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September last year. How Did Steven Beirnes Die. [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. Read about our approach to external linking. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Typically, they work seven days a week for a pittance, sleeping in bamboo shacks erected in jungle clearances. david and hannah thailand crime scene photos - flagpin.com Ive not been threatened, but Ive too much to lose, he says. Family members of Hannah Witheridge comfort one another at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, on Sept. 18, 2014, Burmese migrant workers Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court, in Koh Samui, Thailand, on July 8, 2015, Police measure footprints of a man as data is collected from people who work near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao, Thailand, on Sept. 19, 2014, David Miller, 24, from Jersey, left, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, Thailand is Suffering From The Worst Drought in Decades. These rocks are no strangers to explosive secrets. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. They took the victim away in a pickup truck and the barman just got a mop out and cleaned up the blood, he says. Magazines, Digital There are no official figures for the number of expats who call Thailand home, but it likely runs into the hundreds of thousands. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. Their bodies were found close to the beach bungalows where they had been staying. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. [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. White sand beaches, untouched jungles, cloudless skies. For while the surf has washed the blood from the sand, and life returns to normal for the islands hodgepodge of wealthy and penniless inhabitants, one fact remains clear: not just the boulders hide secrets on Koh Tao. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. "The final admittance of their guilt has allowed this act of clemency to become possible," they continued. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller. The police found a garden hoe and a wooden club nearby, which were quickly determined as the principal murder weapons. The two were said to have been backpackers going through the tiny island of Koh Tao. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". [83] A 2016 study said the case, which it described as a litmus test of Thailand's justice system, "seriously damaged the image of Thailand and of its forces of law and order on the global level". (Both families declined to comment when contacted by TIME.). 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. [76], The International Commission of Jurists said "the defense must be afforded adequate time and facilities to explore whether the alleged destruction of evidence in this case was appropriate and unavoidable, and to test the prosecution case overall." 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. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. True Crime: In September of 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Koh Tao's famous Sairee beach, dead. Miss Witheridge's family paid tribute to their . David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, didn't know each other before they met on holiday in Thailand in September. The sweet reek of marijuana is commonplace even in prominent beachfront bars, while cocaine and crystal meth, known locally as yaba or crazy drug, are not hard to find, say locals. Little wonder the conversational staple of many long-term expats is, These are the worst Thais in Thailand.. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey, were bludgeoned to death. A royal decree said the sentences had been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday on 28 July and to "illustrate the king's clemency". It will take a bit of time to find loopholes to appeal. Is climate change killing Australian wine? According to reports, they allegedly confessed to the murders, stating the migrant workers wanted to rape Hannah after getting aroused while reportedly seeing her kissing David on the beach. This is troubling when set against the allegations of torture made by the accused. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. Both were found dead early on the morning of September 15. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. [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 seven tourists found dead on Thailand's 'murder island' A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. The second individual, Wai Phyo, had allegedly fled the island by boat the previous night. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. Thailands forensics chief, Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand, has said that by not using trained specialists, police contradicted the principles of forensic science.. Thailands tourist industry is already reeling from the effects of marital law. The Supreme Court of Thailandupheld the sentence in August 2019. So sad to hear that young man murdered in Thailand was Jerseyman David Miller. Hannah Witheridge was a college student at the University of Essex and lived there, according to her Facebook page. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. Death Island on Apple Podcasts A mute Burmese beach cleaner stumbled upon the bodies shortly after dawn. The BBC reports that police in the area believe the man has already escaped Koh Tao. What Have Happened to Hannah Witheridge and David Miller? Where Have [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? 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. She added, She always got along well on placement. Backpacker's family 'grateful' for Thai king's clemency - BBC News [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. Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. The bodies of Miss Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey, were found on the resort island of Koh Tao in 2014. The investigators claimed the semen sample retrieved from Hannahs body and the forensic evidence found on the murder weapons and cigarette butts matched their DNA samples. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. In a wildly controversial move, the police forced the suspects to re-enact the murder in front of the media a move condemned by legal experts as prejudicing a fair hearing. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in September 2014, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of the murders in a Thai court and originally sentenced to death, The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. V z 2014 23let absolventka University of East Anglia, kter studovala magistersk titul v oboru logopedie. After the court ordered the DNA to be tested again on July 10, the head of Thailands Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA sample on the hoe did not match the defendants. Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. The only items still available for retesting were objects found around the crime scene, including the suspected murder weapons, but one witness claimed that these had been washed. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? [48][35] A 900-page police report was produced to guide the prosecution's case, but the defence were not allowed to see the report until the trial began. Her autopsy report showed she had been raped and killed by blows to the head. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. When the authorities were unable to pin the crime on migrant workers, they turned their attention toward Western tourists related to the victims. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. Junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha enraged many by hinting that the blame, at some level, lay with the attractive victims. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. (Facebook). [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. [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. Yet it remains an open secret that organized crime is rampant on these islands, says Saksith. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. Because we have learned for generations to take care of visitors. A brand new police station has been built with 40 full-time officers replacing the five previously based here. David and Hannah were seen together at a local pub called AC Bar with friends on September 14th, according to reports, before they left together at 1:00 am. However, Zaw and Wai retracted their confession after they were allowed legal counsel, with a consulate lawyer for Myanmar alleging their clients had been beaten, tortured, and threatened to make the admissions necessary to close the widely publicized case. On 15 September, the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Sairee Beach on the island of Koh Tao, between 4 and 5 am, a few hours after their deaths. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. More recently, a court order to allow Dr. Pornthip to review the DNA evidence was rescinded. Hannah Witheridge murder: Mum begged backpacker not to go to Thailand I think my lasting memory of him will be his smile, wonderful sense of humor, and ability to put his ideas across with conviction and thoughtfulness. David, then 24, had recently graduated in civil and structural engineering from the University of Leeds and planned onstarting a masters degree. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a master's degree. [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. . Only if they are not beautiful." Hannah had been bludgeoned to death a few feet from her room door alongside her fellow British tourist David Miller. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Back on Koh Tao, authorities have scrambled to blot out the tragedy. Lin and Phyo (also known asWin Zaw Htun)were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr Miller and the murder and rape of Ms Witheridge. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. Her family parents Tony and Sue, brother Paul and sisters Tania and Laura described Witheridge as a beautiful person, inside and out, saying she would have gone on to make a significant difference to the lives of many people. Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller. Expats dont want to lose their time in paradise, Earley says, as its cheap, its nice living, and its very easy to ignore what happens.. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations".

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