[11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. 2023 BBC. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". After searching, All rights reserved. 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. Martin Totland - Wedding Photographer - Ivory Grove | LinkedIn The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . A. Kadyrov Hotels near Museum of the Chechen Republic Hotels near The Flower Park Hotels near Visit Chechnya Hotels near Grozny City Observation Deck Hotels near Church of Archangel Michael Hotels near Makhmud Esambayev Avenue Hotels near Museum of Akhmat Khadzhy Kadyrov Hotels near Monument to the Fighters of the . 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. [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". But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. 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Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. It followed her reporting on the case of a British girl who was allegedly raped on the same beach. The Backpacker Murders Of Koh Tao. What Really Happened There? 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. There were no witnesses. The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. [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. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. Thailand's dark side: why you really shouldn't visit Koh Tao [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. 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. Koh Tao is in the Chumphon Archipelago. [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". Download videos of River diver on Depositphotos Millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock videos, footage and clips at affordable prices. I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. Bernd Grotsch 2017; The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. Cart. Thailand's paradise island murder mystery - BBC News [39] Following an interrogation, during which police say Zaw Lin admitted he had entered the country illegally, Zaw Lin was arrested and his clothes and motorcycle were seized as evidence. 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. 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. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. Photograph: Alamy. CTN News. A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. [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. [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". Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. It would be impossible, some of the boulders are so big they would have stopped him but he didnt have a single broken bone. Available for both RF and RM licensing. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. Hannah Witheridge 2014; A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. [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. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. Photographs of the bodies have been circulating on the internet. [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. 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. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . Also on the list of unexplained tourist deaths are French Dimitri Povse, 29, who was found hanged in a bungalow on New Year's Day 2015. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. 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. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. Controversy of Koh Tao murders - coconuts.co There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. Available for both RF and RM licensing. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. 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. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. But they were skeptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had some stern words for China over any role it might play in the war in Ukraine. 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. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. Nick Pearson 2014; [15], Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo retracted their statements following a visit from a consular lawyer for Myanmar and said they had made their statements under duress, after they had allegedly been beaten, left naked in a freezing room, and threatened with electrocution and an extrajudicial killing. What the Murder of Two Young British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand THE BEST Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals (with Photos) Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Hanspeter Suter 2014; [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. [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 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. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. [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. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. 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. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. [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. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. koh tao murders crime scene photos - Sozyaz.com Best Contents 2023 - 2022 "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. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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.. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. [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 BEST Kurunegala Forests (with Photos) - Tripadvisor It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. Saudi Arabia | Saudi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty against 10 Former The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. Koh Tao: Millionaire couple found dead on Thailand's Death Island We are like one big family, weve been through this journey for the past seven years together. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. Date: July 24, 2022. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. 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. 7 Reasons to stay at Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli 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. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop by scuba divers in the sea after he disappeared following a night out with his family on New Year's Eve. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "Another one of my sons was there with him, he was absolutely distraught looking at the police just laughing at him. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. Two of the victims were dismembered and disposed of in plastic bags. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. [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. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. 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. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. Floods trap up to 15,000 tourists in Thailand - NZ Herald Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. 0 0. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? Koh Tao murders: "Person of interest" (updated Tuesday) We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. 851 River diver Videos, Royalty-free Stock River diver Footage The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. 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. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders.