Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. Create an account. The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. 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. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. (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 . Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. Aran Klaewklong, a security guard from Big Blue Diving shop, told police he found a mobile phone, clothes, a hotel key, shoes and an ID on the beach at 1.30 am during a beach patrol. 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. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. 10 July 2015. The governor of the island said he had instructed the district chief to file criminal charges against the local online news outlet Samui Times in 2017 after it ran an article that questioned the police account of deaths and referred to Koh Tao as Death Island. [47][75][12] Human Rights Watch said the case was "profoundly disturbing" and called for the verdict to be reviewed in a "transparent and fair appeal process". Many raised concerns that contamination cast doubt upon the forensic evidence: officials, journalists and tourists were seen walking around the crime scene, and Thai police did not use trained or independent specialists to collect forensic evidence. 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. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. [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. [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. Elise's mother Michele van Egten says she does not believe the Thai police's version of events amid fears authorities are working to suppress speculation about the many murders on the island. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. [7][12], Miller and Witheridge were last seen at a bar called AC Bar[13] with friends at a party on Sunday night with around 50 people mostly foreign tourists before they left together after 1am. 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). HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. 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. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. 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. The authorities said he had died after striking the diving board from which he was jumping. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. Bernd Grotsch 2017; [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. [62] They were both also charged with entering the country illegally, to which Wai Phyo had already confessed. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. It leaves Khao San Songserm at either 1800 or 1900. Photograph: Alamy. The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. The country's prime minister, who had been phoning the national police chief daily for updates on the investigation, said "this should not have happened at all, as it will affect Thailand in the eyes of the international community". A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. Dark side of Koh Tao: The seven tourists found dead on Thailand's 'murder island' after backpacker 'eaten by lizards' Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of. 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. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . 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. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. From: kohtao. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. [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. The autopsy stated he had drowned. On September 20, 1988, Tara Calico left her home in New Mexico to go on a bike ride she took, In November 1981, actress Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned off the coast of Southern California during a boating trip with her, In July 2014, 52 year old Lynn Messer mysteriously disappeared from her familys 260-acre farm in Bloomsdale, Missouri. The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. 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. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. 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. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Their explanations as to why these kids have died just dont add up- you dont have to be a pathologist or a doctor to know what weve been told is nonsensical.. Hiroshi 2002; The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing. There were no witnesses. I am a legal practitioner in Perth, Western Australia who has been following events on Koh Tao very closely since the time of the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on 15 September 2014. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. 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. Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is steeped in paradoxes. 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. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had some stern words for China over any role it might play in the war in Ukraine. The more I was getting involved, the more I was reporting, the more upset the Thais would get," she added. David Miller 2014; Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. 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. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. 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. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. For example, she discovered that one of the DNA labs that conducted tests at the time only had accreditation to do paternity tests and not criminal profiling in a capital murder case. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. Martin Totland Frilans. [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; Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. The family has contested the police version of events. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? [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". Cart. "[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". Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: joanromans.com, +49803921568627, +34972573012, +34643318517 Focs i Estufes Romans - Joan Romans 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". "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. Attempted murder by Thai diving instructor, Santi Khokpool in the Fishbowl Beach Bar, Koh Tao on 28-year-old British tourist on 15 August 2020. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. A backpacker from Belgium, Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanged in the hillson the island on April 28, 2017. 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.. 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. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. 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. 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. 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. CTN News. Nick's father, Graham, had been the last person to see him when he walked with his son back to where the family was staying. [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". The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? Lightboxes. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Some 200 children have died in one nation after taking toxic cough syrups. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo koh tao, dimitri povse koh tao, christina annesley koh tao, Valentina Novozhyonova koh tao, luke miller koh tao, Elise Dallemagne koh tao, Bernd grotsch koh tao, Alexandr Bucspun koh tao, The frightening case of the Trailside Killer David Carpenter, The Yosemite National Park Sightseer Murders and the two faces of evil, The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. [34][35], According to the prosecution in the subsequent case, CCTV footage analysed by the police showed three individuals riding a motorcycle to 7-Eleven, where they bought beer and cigarettes, before going towards Sairee Beach. 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. 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. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. [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. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. 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? With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. 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. 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. 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. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. [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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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. 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. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. June 6, 2021. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. Hanspeter Suter 2014; [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. [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]. "I have no proof that Ben was murdered. There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. 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.. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. Read about our approach to external linking. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. [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. 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.. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. We won't comment on the trial process. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. Available for both RF and RM licensing. 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. 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. For other inquiries, Contact Us. [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. It will take a bit of time to find loopholes to appeal. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. New Zealand's Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says 185 Kiwis are registered as being in the flood affected areas of Koh Samui and Koh Tao and parts of southern Thailand, including . "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. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". They had no prior criminal records. "So my suspicions are that it was a mugging that went wrong. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. That is awful. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. 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. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The families are not satisfied with the investigation by the Thai authorities, Christina Annesley was found dead on the beach in January 2015, Thai authorities said Ben Harrington,32, died when he crashed during a moped ride, The families have not been satisfied with the investigation of the Thai authorities, Luke Miller was found dead at the bottom of a pool, Elise Dallemange was found dead in the jungle in Koh Tao, The Curse of the turtle was released earlier this month, Bernd Grotsch from Germany was found dead at his house in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova vanished from her hostel, Suzanne Buchanan is determined to find out the truth about Koh Tao, Our kids all died on Koh Tao death island cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED, Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Isle of Innisfree ferry: Blaze breaks out on boat carrying 183 people in English Channel as lifeboats scramble to scene. 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. [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". 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. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. 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 . [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. The owner of a 5 star hotel in Phuket and his wife were found dead at the bottom of their hotel swimming pool on the island of Koh Tao on Friday afternoon. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. 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Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. 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. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. 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 Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. 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 . We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. 1. [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. BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher said Miss Witheridge's father and brother sat with their heads bowed as the evidence was presented in court but continued listening.