POLICE have finally made a breakthrough in investigating the shocking murders of two British backpackers whose battered bodies were found last month on a beach in southern Thailand, but mystery still surrounds the horrific discovery. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The inquest, which began last month and finished on Wednesday, heard that Mrs Daniels had a complex medical history and had undergone numerous surgeries and treatments at various hospitals over the years. Really sad that the victims pictures are in the internet like this. Police revealed that the two Thais had been interviewed but were released after refusing to provide DNA samples. Koh Tao Island Murders | David Miller and Hannah Witheridge Case Analysis Dr. Todd Grande 1.27M subscribers 54K views 5 months ago This video answers the question: Can I analyze the case of. --- Nar However, no toxicology report was conducted. Instead, he told the court that the hoe was examined under a magnifying glass but investigators decided there were no viable fingerprints or DNA to collect, Sky News reported. The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, has been heartbroken by a second death. Mrs Daniels went on to qualify as a paediatric nurse and the pair were married in 2018. Please note: Starting with Case 200, we are using a new Casefile Ratings Form (200-). From the beginning, there were signs that the investigation was in trouble. Thanks for that. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, of Jersey were bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel room late at night. Our hearts are broken, our lives shattered again, the statement said. The death sentences of two men convicted of murdering two British backpackers in Thailand were upheld by the Supreme Court. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Mrs Daniels died five years and one day after her sister, Hannah Witheridge, 23 from Norfolk, was found dead on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. Hannah runs, with one of the assailant following her. His defense attorneys have also said that the evidence used to convict the two men was unreliable as authorities had mishandled the DNA and did not allow independent analysis of the samples. When residents of the affluent Southfields area of south-west London notice foul smelling smoke coming from a home on Wimbledon Park Drive in September 2017, firefighters arrive to make sure the house.- Hren Sie Case 236: Sophie Lionnet von Casefile True Crime sofort auf Ihrem Tablet, Telefon oder im Browser - kein Herunterladen erforderlich. The influence of the king was on this occasion somewhat beneficial - they take the royal family so seriously that you can be sent to prison for writing even an oblique satire or parody of them. Bizarre pictures showed them handcuffed wearing bicycle helmets surrounded by cops as they reconstructed the attack on Sairee beach. When the bodies of British tourists 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller were found brutally murdered on the remote Thai island of Koh Tao, the police immediately concluded that the killer had to be a foreigner, as a Thai person couldn't be capable of such brutality. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The main suspect in the crime is a fellow British backpacker, according to The Guardian. Who was Hannah Witheridge (Was Raped And Killed, Incident Detail) Wiki, Biography, Age, Hidden Facts You Need to Know. A quick scan of English-language news portals for the booming resort of Pattaya one of the countrys most popular destinations reveals a shocking litany of muggings, phone snatchings, shootings, stabbings, fatal car crashes, drownings, and more, all involving visitors. Blood spatters were not tested, he admitted. Their bodies were found semi-naked and severely battered, and both had severe head wounds. They lost their appeal in 2017. Forensic examiners in Bangkok found water in his lungs and revealed that Miss. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Hannah Witheridge, from Hemsby, and David Miller, from Jersey, were found dead last September, David Miller's family released a new photograph of their son one year after his death in Thailand, Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin deny the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, Chris Rock talks Oscars slap in live Netflix show, Everything Everywhere wins big ahead of Oscars, PM to end asylum claims from small boat arrivals, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court. Really surprised me since he usually goes to great lenghts get it right, however butchered this one that should have been "easy". A summary of the appeal by the 'Koh Tao Two' against conviction and the death sentence for the murders of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller appears to totally demolish a sloppy prosecution case in the controversial trial in Thailand. Our hearts go out to the Witheridge family who are also coming to terms with the sudden trauma of the equally senseless ending of their Hannahs life, Mr Millers family said in a statement earlier this week. However, given the inconsistencies in the investigation, doubt is likely to remain no matter the verdict. 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. And even Sairee was mispronounced. By the time dawn broke over Koh Tao, the beach had been transformed into a bloodbath. One thing I thought of during this episode is there needs to be some sort of DNA processing regulation, preferably independent of police departments/government agencies. 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. He said the plan would be rolled out soon on popular resort islands such as Koh Tao and Koh Phangan and also the tourist beach area of Pattaya. Two Burmese migrants who were convicted over the killings had their death sentences reduced to life imprisonment in 2020. Thai police admitted to moving Mr Miller's body, ostensibly to prevent it from washing away. So sad to hear that young man murdered in Thailand was Jerseyman David Miller. All Rights Reserved. Police initially named a British friend of hers as a person of interest, then began taking DNA samples from hundreds of suspects. On Friday, Pornthip Rojanasunand, the head of Thailand's forensics institute, testified that DNA found on the hoe did not match that of the two accused men, the Telegraph reported. We are saying that by giving them the death penalty, they will lose the opportunity to do something good with their lives, lawyer Nadthasiri Bergman said at the time. During the re-enactment, the two men wore flak jackets and motorcycle helmets as protection against angry residents, who fear the crime will damage tourism to the remote island. The vast majority of them have safe and enjoyable holidays, but a few are not so lucky. Burmese bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of murder in 2015. Exact date yellow weather warning for snow and ice forecast to hit UK - will you be affected? Mr and Mrs Miller, from St Helier, said: "Every moment we miss our son. The existence of two weapons has made us believe that there are at least two attackers, the deputy national police chief, Police General Somyot Pumpanmuang, told reporters Monday. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. A UK autopsy later discovered Ben died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. They lost an appeal in 2017. The biggest giveaway that that book isnt going to be up to much is that the front cover is Koh Nang Yuan, which is a different island to Koh Tao altogether. They also alleged that the evidence was misused by the police and that the couples confessions were the result of systematic harassment by immigrants in the region. The two suspects, identified only as "Saw" and "Win," appeared at a news conference this week where the Thailand police commissioner said that DNA samples from . They deny any involvement. They both decide to take a backpacking trip to Thailand before pursuing Master's Degrees in their respective fields. In a heartfelt statement read out by the coroner, her husband Lewis Daniels said: 'Laura was an incredible young lady who had so much desire to continue making the most of her life whilst having to deal with adversity very few people across the world will ever have to experience.'. The investigation descended into the absurd when the Thai Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, commented on the killings by saying that only ugly women were safe wearing bikinis in Thailand. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. He has now apparently fled into hiding in fear for his life. Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller met on Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel in Thailand. And wasnt the English guy that was an initial suspect found with a blood stained guitar? For other inquiries, Contact Us. They will also have the opportunity to further reduce their sentences for good behavior. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, What the Murder of Two British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand's Dark Side. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Both families have revealed their struggle to come to terms with their tragic losses, and have remained hopeful throughout the investigation. Davids not that bad, but my god what they did to Hannah. . Cookie Notice La Polica tailandesa detuvo a dos birmanos por el doble asesinato. Win Zaw Htun and his friend Zaw Lin, both 21, are in both the Koh Samui jail and the spotlight of a gruesome crime case, although practically no one believes they really brutally murdered English tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller last month on nearby Koh Tao. The pain of this loss is indescribable and our family needs a lot of time and privacy during this excruciating time.. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. The two men were convicted and sentenced in 2015 and the verdict was upheld by an appeals court in 2017 and the Supreme Court in August 2019, but their sentences were changed to life in prison on Friday thanks to a royal decree. Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, had been raped before being beaten to death while Miller, 24, from Jersey, had been violently attacked and abandoned to drown in the shallow waters of the island's. Maybe I missed it but I dont think the fate of the guitar was addressed? Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller casefilepodcast 70 56 56 comments Add a Comment Lisbeth_Salandar 4 mo. "They're pleading with the Burmese government to look into the case and find out the truth," he added. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, of Jersey were bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel room late at night. Yeah, it was a but suspicious given they had the phone and there was apparently DNA evidence. 18:37 GMT 11 Aug 2021. The final photo of the pair looking happy and carefree, the couple appear to be with a large group of friends, enjoying their evening with drinks at a bar called Choppers. Sometime deep into the night, the friends wandered off, perhaps headed back to their bungalow resort nearby. David and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge were found bludgeoned to death on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao after they had been drinking in a bar. Shortly after arresting the men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, Thai officials had them perform a bizarre public re-enactment of the crimes. She screams, he panics, so he hits her multiple times with the hoe to make her shut up - not rage as much as fear and desire to stop her screams. She also preyed upon the families of the victims to suit her narrative. The pair said they offered information to. She is an absolute nut job with an inexplicable vendetta against Tao, who has been exiled from Thailand due to defamation charges (not just from this story), and her and her partner are supporters of the English Defence League and known racists. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act. The thing that struck me about this episode was the guitar. Casey just wanted to come up with his own pronunciation of the Thai locations, but they're no more incorrect than the widely-accepted English mispronunciations of the places. David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, didnt know each other before they met on holiday in Thailand in September. I here to deliver the same warning. Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island on New Year's Day 2015. The two workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, were sentenced to death for the murder of David Miller and the murder and rape of Hannah Witheridge, whose bodies were discovered on a beach on the popular tourist island of Koh Tao in September 2014. Its also reported that Witheridge had been raped prior to her death, those reports were later found to be unfounded. We have to look into the behavior of the other party [Witheridge and Miller] too, he said. But given all the other weird deaths and rumours of coverups etc. However, their supporters had claimed the pair had been framed and the evidence mishandled. Good episode, but infuriating for the same reasons as many others. The defense appeals were exhausted in August and a royal pardon or commutation of the death sentence by the Thai king is the last chance for a pardon. David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23 Forensic tests carried out on two British tourists murdered in Thailand have found that the woman died from severe head wounds, while the man had. That's not how being suicidal works! McAnna, a busker well known on Koh Tao as Guitarman, took a photo of the Thais and uploaded it to the Internet, after which he began receiving death threats. The trial of the two Burmese migrant workers was also plagued by accusations of human rights abuses. Lin and Phyo initially confessed to the killings but then retracted their statements saying they were tortured. Great episode but a tragic tale! But the trial recently heard that a garden hoe alleged to have been used in the killings carried the DNA of two men, but there was no trace of either defendant. His death was ruled as suicide but police could not explain why his hands were tied behind his back. Cuando Boyne Annesley busca al ltimo hombre que vio a su hija con vida, cree que ella estaba indagando sobre los asesinatos de Hannah Witheridge y David Miller en la playa Sairee en 2014. I also found that extremely weird it was brought up once and never again. All in all, this case made me reconsider ever going to Thailand, if I ever thought of doing that. Yep and the fact that he straight up fucked off out the country for fear of persecution from locals. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. Her mother, Mrs Witheridge previously wept at one point in the hearing and said: 'You lose one daughter, you don't expect to lose another.'. - Listen to Case 236: Sophie Lionnet by Casefile True Crime instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed. I tend to want to see what the players look like after I am done listening, and some of the images that came up should just not be online. Both were found dead early on the morning of September 15. Although there were signs of sexual activity, investigators have not ascertained whether Witheridge was raped. Also, this may be controversial to say, but in reality we can never really take any sentiments shared by the family members (positive or negative) of the victims all that seriously (at least initially) because of how close they are to the cases. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. A bloodstained garden hoe, commonly used by beachside bars to dig fire pits, was found nearby and has now been confirmed as the principal murder weapon, along with a wooden club. The bodies of David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, aged 23, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, were discovered semi-naked on a beach in the divers' paradise of Koh Tao yesterday. Thais wouldnt do this pronounced a leading policeman, and officers started rounding up Burmese laborers for interrogation and DNA tests. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, of Jersey were bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel room late at night on September 15, 2014, on the popular Sairee Beah. 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. Since then, the case has perplexed police, devastated their families, and damaged the countrys tourism industry. Wearing helmets, bullet-proof vests and handcuffs, and wielding a dust bin instead of a hoe, the men demonstrated how they had supposedly killed the tourists. On a human level, it's understandable why they would have these feelings considering the grief and emotional pain they've gone through, but at the same time, judges, juries, and prisons exist for a reason. The bodies of Miss Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey, were found on the resort island of Koh Tao in 2014. Basically, Myanmar shares a border with Thailand and is considerably lower on the economic development index so a lot of labour, both legal and illegal, is done by Myanmar people inside Thailand. British tourists David Miller, 24, and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, seen here, were killed with a garden tool after a beach party early Sept. 15, 2014 in Thailand. In a statement, Ian and Sue Miller, who have campaigned against the death penalty, said: "We are grateful to His Majesty the King of Thailand for showing his clemency to the murderers of our son David. Very strange. Koh Tao is actually pronounced 'kaw? Press J to jump to the feed. The two Myanmar men, in helmets and handcuffs, charged in the killings, were made to take part in a re-enactment of the crime. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Do you know this baby? Two weeks ago, Hannah Witheridge was raped. The collection, transport, testing, analysis, reporting and storage of forensic or DNA evidence used in the Koh Tao murder case did not meet international standards, said Andy Hall, a legal counsel for the families. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Lt Gen Panya, appointed assistant national police chief earlier this week authorities had arrested three immigrant migrant workers. With no DNA evidence and a contested confession, the case appears to be collapsing. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? Witheridge and Miller are the two British tourists who were found dead after being chopped up on a Thailand beach. Crowds of onlookers watched as the suspects were led to the rocky alcove along the shore where the two bodies were discovered. TWO men found guilty of murdering a pair of British backpackers in Thailand will be executed after their appeals were thrown out by the courts today. It only emerged in recent days that Witheridge, a speech therapy student from England, was brutally raped before her death. Read about our approach to external linking. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Hannah & David: Dirigido por John Barnard. One year later, those test results are far from convincing. Killed in Thailand: British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. The spotlight fell on British tourist Christopher Alan Ware, who shared a room with Miller, with police hinting at a crime of passion. Ware was arrested at Bangkoks main airport with his brother James. Another one that personally gets me a lot is when relatives express vengeful feelings, saying how it would be righteous for their loved one's killer to have done to them all the heinous things they did to their loved ones or how they should be allowed the liberty to be with them privately one-on-one and do whatever they want with them. It means Myanmar people suffer a lot of discrimination and are generally treated as work chattel, and so it seems very easy for Thai authorities to pin crimes on them. Mr Miller was found four metres away, face up, with a blow to the head and water in his lungs. The BBC reports that police in the area believe the man has already escaped Koh Tao. Hannah & David: Directed by John Barnard. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? The two men were convicted and sentenced in 2015 and the verdict was upheld by an appeals court in 2017 and the Supreme Court in August 2019. . "We hope that these two murderers will now spend a very, very long time in jail where they cannot harm other families and will have time to reflect on the consequences of their acts.". The murders of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, occurred in the early hours of the morning after they left AC Bar. Specially how their entire investigation depended entirely on their DNA evidence, which honestly, sounded like it either was completely made up or staged. Please try again later. I doubt we'll ever know the truth. We urge anyone who can help these investigations to please assist the Royal Thai Police in solving these murders and bringing the culprits to justice. Forensics results released Wednesday show that Briton David Miller had water in his lungs when he and romantic partner Hannah Witheridge were brutally killed early Monday on Koh Tao in. Defense lawyers argued that DNA from a garden hoe allegedly used as a murder weapon did not match samples taken from the men. I wish true crime media would stop using this reasoning altogether. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. The men alleged that they had been tortured by the police, and legal teams claimed that the evidence was misused. Thailand beach murders: Hannah Witheridge and David Miller may have argued in bar with gangsterBy Andy Lines KOH TAO: -- Police are also trying to trace a mystery western woman seen on CCTV running along the main street in the early hours on the night of the murdersMurdered British backpackers Ha. The authorities scoured its jungles for suspects as islanders blocked the ferry to prevent the murderers' escape. With tourism critical to Thailand's economy, police. Lawyers for the two men had claimed evidence used in the case against them was mishandled and they made confessions under duress that they later retracted, raising questions about police competence and the judicial system in Thailand. "The final admittance of their guilt has allowed this act of clemency to become possible," they continued. Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com. In a statement, Miss Witheridge's family said their daughter had been "taken from us in the most horrific way possible" and learning of her death had been an "indescribably impossible time". However, the three judges who handed down the original guilty verdicts and death penalties concluded the prosecution proved its case with forensic evidence that met international standards linking the men to the murders. Their sentences will be reduced to life in prison after a royal clemency decree was issued on Friday, said their lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat. Their bodies were discovered on a beach on the popular resort island of Koh Tao in September 2014. Wa-hee-rah-long-gonenever heard anyone else pronounce it like that. ITV reports that the suspect may be a friend of either Witheridge or Miller. RIP, Christian May (@christianrmay) September 15, 2014. dtao' (the ? Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tuns mothers appealed to the Koh Samui court in May 2016 over concerns about the verdicts, particularly the DNA evidence used in the investigation. There is other evidence that points to these deaths being murders, but family members saying that the victims weren't suicidal is not it. "The second roti seller has been on the stand and it's become very clear that he does not have much of grasp of Thai at all so we don't understand how he could have translated for police," Andy Hall, a British migrant rights advocate who is assisting the defence, told the newspaper. 18:34 GMT 11 Aug 2021 First, Thai police admitted in court that they never bothered to check CCTV footage of a boat leaving from a nearby pier just an hour after the killings. Do you know this baby? In a separate address, for which he has since apologized, he said that tourists think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want, they can wear bikinis and walk everywhere. The general even suggested that the only tourists who should feel safe in bikinis were those who were not beautiful..