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While police claimed that she hanged herself, mystery surrounded her death, as it was revealed she used a fake name at the hostel she was staying. [3] The murders were the first cases of homicide on the island in over eight years. 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 police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. 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. Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. Two of the victims were dismembered and disposed of in plastic bags. Murder of two backpackers on the island of Koh Tao SAIREE BEACH, KOH TAO, THAILAND - SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 British tourists Hannah Witheridge (23 years old) and David Miller (24 years old) enjoyed their holiday in Thailand on the famous island of Koh Tao. [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. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. 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. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . [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. Some 200 children have died in one nation after taking toxic cough syrups. "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . [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. 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. They had no prior criminal records. [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. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . Bernd had also recently separated from his wife, Oey, a Koh Tao native, with whom he had a seven-year-old daughter, Bene, who had been living for the last two years with his sister, Monica, in Germany. 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. 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 . The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. The reporter was forced to leave the country she lived in for 20 years after Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant accusing her of publishing false information and violating the computer crime law.. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. The authorities said he had died after striking the diving board from which he was jumping. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. "[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". [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. 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. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. [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. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. Again when Christina Annesley died police didnt interview the last person she was seen with while she was alive. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. [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. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask that Hannah be allowed a well-deserved day of privacy on Friday whilst we join her many friends in a celebration of her life.. 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. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. He was travelling Southeast Asia with a friend after completing a six-week work placement in Australia with a mining company,[6][8][9] and arrived in Thailand in August. Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. Martin Totland Frilans. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. The hearing was told that a post-mortem examination in Thailand showed that Mr Miller had a number of small bruises on his face and legs and gave a cause of death of head injuries and drowning. Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. 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 5am, a few hours after their deaths. Find the perfect koh tao murder 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. [30] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission said "the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the two Myanmar workers were dubious, leading to impressions the suspects were not aware of their rights and that justice had not been done". [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. 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. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Bernds family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said that the authorities told them he had died of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". 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. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. The bungalow is 50ft above the ocean, theres nothing but massive granite boulders between his bungalow and the ocean so how did he managed to tumble all the way down there? They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. 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. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. 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. 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. Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. 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. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. After searching, All rights reserved. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. [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]. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. 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. Hannah was also raped in the attack. She added: The families of all the victims are not happy with the police reports, autopsy reports in Thailand dont match autopsy reports in the UK. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. "We identified a person who was with her last and they didn't follow up with them- then we asked for a blood sample and they delayed. 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.. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? [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. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. Only if they are not beautiful. He later apologized, saying that he meant only that foreign visitors should be careful. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. The Mirror reports that Hannahs family have pleaded for the photos of the pair, who were brutally murdered on a Thailand beach, to be taken off the internet. It covers an area of about 21 km2. There were no signs he was suicidal. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . We are here for David because of his tragic death. [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. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. Christina Annesley 2015; Luke Miller 2016; Today, we have gotten rid of them.. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is steeped in paradoxes. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. [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. Two weeks later, two illegal Burmese migrant workers were blamed for the deaths, primarily on the basis of DNA evidence, and confessed following an hours-long interrogation. Posts on social media said Dallemagne had booked a ticket to Chumphon province, on the mainland, and that her luggage arrived after her death, raising questions of her intentions to take her own life. International experts criticized the DNA testing done by the hospital at the time with claims that samples were tampered with in order to falsely incriminate two Burmese workers. 2023 BBC. Koh Tao is in the Chumphon Archipelago. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. 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. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. [46] The police then forced the suspects to re-enact the murder in front of media,[34] a move condemned by legal experts as prejudicing a fair hearing. Her mother, Michele claimed that Elise used a fake name of 'Elise Dubuis' to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao. Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry on April 19. Koh Tao is a small and beautiful island in Southern Thailand, approximately 21 km, 30 km north of Koh Phan Gan and about 70 km from the Chumphon town. Six weeks on . "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. Koh Tao murders 1 language Sairee Beach The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. 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. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. 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. World put on alert as deadly virus spreads, Hundreds dead in horror cough syrup tragedy. "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. "Then I started thinking what's going on here?". [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 university graduate, who was two weeks into a four-month backpacking trip round South East Asia, was found dead on her bungalow in January 2015. Koh Tao ''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. 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. Eight days later locals living near Tanote Bay found Elise's body after becoming suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and forth into the jungle. Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. Rocio Gomez; Lightboxes. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. Death sentences in Koh Tao killings commuted. 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. Rockefeller Audio 2022. There were no witnesses. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. June 6, 2021. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. 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.. [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. Silje Mathisen 2014; Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. Through their own investigation, and talking to witnesses Mr. Annesley discovered that the room where his daughter was staying was given to someone else "three hours after her body was taken. 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. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. Bergen Area, Norway. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. 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. 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. Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. [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. Only if they are not beautiful." [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. 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. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. 0 0. They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015.