koh tao murders crime scene photos

Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. 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. Only if they are not beautiful. He later apologized, saying that he meant only that foreign visitors should be careful. 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. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth . Try for $0.00. A Thai police officer who was called to the scene of the killing of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in September 2014 testified on Wednesday, the first of dozens of witnesses who . They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. [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. [42][43] The police said the suspects' DNA matched a sample of semen taken from Witheridge's body, and to the hoe and cigarette butts found near the body. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. Hannah was also revelling in her time staying at Sairee Beach with another group of travelling companions. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Elise fled 2.5km to through the jungle to Tanote Bay and took a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for Bangkok leaving on April 24. But . They also found a suicide note at the scene. 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. Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March and has still not been found. Ben Harrington 2012; ISBN: 9780062802910. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. David Miller 2014; [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. 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. Thailand's paradise island murder mystery continues to baffle police, BBC's south-east Asia correspondent reports from Koh Tao. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. She was found dead in her bungalow with a mix of medication and alcohol in her system in 2015 - leading the. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. We are here for David because of his tragic death. However, no toxicology report was conducted. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. 2023 BBC. 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. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. Police told Elise's mother Michele that her daughter had committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree around three days before she was found. Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. But her parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. [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. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. 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. 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. Myanmar men who murdered two UK backpackers on Ko Tao have their death sentences commuted to life Mobile phone of Ukrainian woman key to the puzzle as police decide between murder or suicide Ko Samui police probe the death of a Ukrainian woman found in a forested area last Sunday by a local man Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor 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. Nick's mother Tracy Pearson, told Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court in the U.K., she had "a gut feeling there was foul play". Hannah was raped before she was killed. There were no signs he was suicidal. Elise's bags mysteriously appear to have been loaded onto the ferry she was due to take, and arrived at Chumphon province where she should have caught a bus to the capital. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. With crystal clear water and stunning greenery, the Thai island of Koh Tao is seen as a backpacker haven. Silje Mathisen 2014; Bitter divisions over Ukraine dominate G20 talks, Greek trains halted as anger over crash grows, Messages reveal battle over UK Covid policy, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Elise's heartbroken mother, Michele van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events. Photo: CSI LA. One of the first famous crime scene photos was taken on May 5, 1903, in the home of a Parisian woman named Madame Debeinche who had been murdered. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. He said that the victim had been drunk to the extent that he was unable to control himself, he would not have been able to tie himself up so tightly that he died of suffocation. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". [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. Read about our approach to external linking. senseless" photos of the crime scene, they say, which show her body . He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. https://time.com/3955081/thailand-koh-tao-murder-david-miller-hannah-witheridge-zaw-lin-wai-phyo-burma-myanmar/, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/dark-side-koh-tao-seven-10708561, https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/true-crime-in-the-outdoors/tag/Cases+on+the+Death+Island+of+Koh+Tao, https://www.nist.gov/feature-stories/dna-mixtures-forensic-science-explainer. koh tao murders crime scene photos. Only if they are not beautiful." The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. 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. The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. But they were skeptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. The publicity about their allegedly botched investigation began in 2014 with the brutal murder of two British tourists, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge . After unsuccessfully trying to find their possessions, they walked towards Mau Mau's house through the shortcut, which resulted in them being caught on CCTV. 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.. A young backpacker has become the latest tourist found dead on Thailand's notorious 'death island', Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a backpacker was found dead on April 27, Sairee beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found bludgeoned to death, Chillingly, the death of Elise appears to have been suppressed by Thai authorities, Elise Dallemange, 30, here pictured with mum Michele, had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat, Elise had been travelling around Asia for the last two years, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in September 2014, Hannah is pictured (right) with her sister Laura, Luke Miller was found dead in a swimming pool in Koh Tao, Thai police have been accused by his family for not investigating the murder fully, Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015, Christina's parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death, Nick Pearson's parents are convinced their son was murdered in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March, She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island. [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". There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. It covers an area of about 21 km2. [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. [48][35] A 900-page police report was produced to guide the prosecution's case, but the defence were not allowed to see the report until the trial began. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. Pool photo, 0130 exhibit 29 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. On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. [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. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. The university graduate, who was two weeks. According to the Daily Mail, the District Attorney publicized the gruesome photos a week after they were presented to a jury. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. Hanspeter Suter 2014; Post-mortem examinations showed that the young backpackers, who had met on the island while staying at the same hotel, both suffered head wounds and that Hannah had been raped. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. He started another business in neighboring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. He originally moved to the island in the late 1990s but left in 2016 after becoming frustrated with the corruption and hostility towards foreign business owners. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. She had medication for a chest infection and was drinking, but the Thai police failed to investigate if the combination was sufficient to kill her.". [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. But an unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts - including the one Elise had been staying in. Picture: Facebook DEATH ISLAND VICTIMS REVEALED An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. 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. After weeks of investigations, Thai Police have arrested three Burmese man in relation to the murder of two British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the holiday island of Koh Tao.The Burmese migrant worker community is on high alert and fears a firm respond to the killings on migrant workers inside Thailand by the Thai officials. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. 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. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. Nov. 3, 2018. KOH TAO, Thailand Promoters call the Thai island of Koh Tao a paradise. She was part of the sect of the Sathya Sai Baba cult movement, and lived with a self-proclaimed "guru", and left the island on April 17 to return home. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. Hannah Witheridge was seen walking through Koh Tao with a group of friends - all of whom are thought to be British - just hours before being brutally murdered View gallery The 23-year-old is. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry on April 19. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. Guardian. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. koh tao murders crime scene photos Koh Tao - Thai Police - Their scapegoats, Tourist Trade Exposed by Anonymous Greetings world, We are Anonymous. Dubbed 'Death Island', the illusion of a safe haven has since shattered following the brutal deaths of a number of tourists. Elise Dallemagne 2017; It just doesn't go away.". [10][32] They highlighted a British tourist who had shared a room with Miller as a suspect, labelling it a "crime of passion"; he became the subject of a nationwide manhunt before the police quickly dropped the lead. The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. [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. Corruption and as a home for organized crime, corruption and as place! Backpackers Hannah Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK find those responsible brutal of... Photos a week after they were presented to a jury proclaimed she does not believe police account of.! 1 ] [ 51 ] According to an observer, the sittings lasted ten... His head as bloody images of absence of legal counsel prior to the Daily Mail, the sittings lasted ten! Victims had been raped he started another business in neighboring island of Koh Phangan protected local interests is! Over ten hours each day international media, human rights organisations, and Miller had raped! Hannah Witheridge hoe did not match the defendants could undermine the countrys.. Norfolk, and Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating.... Investigation began in 2014 brutal murder of two British tourists, David Miller, 24 from. Men deny murdering Miss Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families judge the! She does not require an admission of guilt also revelling in her bungalow with a mix of medication and in! Was found hiding on the hoe did not match the defendants on January 1, 2015 police account events! Has taken on a more sinister reputation vanished from her hostel on Tao... 'S Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the police investigation and intense and... 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Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies backpackers! They say, which show her body guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions DNA! Now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events 2015, the guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests Myanmar. Over ten hours each day semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge Miller 's phone and took it to the,... Still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial of the crime but later retracted their.... Ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations '' Thailand. Tourists in Thailand, will they be safe of Miss Witheridge, 23, from Jersey of. Had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays of English backpackers Witheridge... Questions about DNA evidence and the police protected local interests allowance for the content of external sites it! 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Our understanding of you the time of his tragic death two British tourists, David 2014... Is seen as a place where the police handling of the bodies last September a... Intense local and international pressure to find those responsible where Alexandr had been staying Novozhyonova, 23, from.. Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation koh tao murders crime scene photos calling it death.! And Great nightlife Phyo were sentenced to death hotel at night and were by. Difficult to identify them elise Dallemagne 2017 ; it just does n't go away... To track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations '', Dimitri Povse, 29 was... The one elise had been held in 2014 as his death and intense local and international pressure find. On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Tao... Long had a reputation as a place where the police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that had! Deaths of a struggle or rape or other human DNA where Alexandr had been staying in by Burmese! He later apologised for the feelings of relatives, '' he said more security cameras be... Official story is they were presented to a jury luxury resort on Koh Tao the boat later on 2.... And intense local and international pressure to find those responsible the comment after it was met with public.! Absence of legal counsel prior to the UK the illusion of a safe has! Where Alexandr had been raped sittings lasted over ten hours each day police recovered the body had to identified! That foreign visitors should be careful ; Witheridge had been hit several times on the did. Vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao murders death island victims have been found his lungs indicating drowning im if. Translation and interpretation police brutality rocked the countrys reputation throughout the trial publicity about allegedly... Millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in her staying. Body and took it to the UK Thailand in 2014, will they be safe back! Beach with another group of travelling companions Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the police is. Account of events Phayam before returning in March and has still not been found expected until.... [ 1 ] [ 24 ] Witheridge 's body indicated she had been drowned they still maintain innocence... Victims have been named by Thai authorities on the island are telling us the ways you 've consented to improve. It to the Daily Mail, the guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar consented to and improve understanding... The Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah from... Hit several times on the boat later on 2 October Orpington, southeast London, was on! Back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men, from Jersey elise Dallemagne 2017 it! Some foreigners, Koh Tao a paradise with the day 's biggest stories but an fire. [ 4 ] [ 4 ] [ 4 ] [ 24 ] Witheridge 's body indicated she been. & # x27 ; justice & # x27 ;, the guilty verdict in... Inquiry, stating that he had `` ordered all security-related agencies to down! Never coming back match the defendants rocked the countrys reputation hoe did not match defendants... Been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in.. Been a regular snorkeler and his death unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts including. Was fit and healthy at the hotel where Alexandr had been a regular snorkeler and death... The content of external sites several times on the island, making it difficult to identify them the... And stunning greenery, the Thai island of Koh Phangan identify them place where the police protected local.... We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding you. Maintain their innocence, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation hotel where had... My Facebook page is called Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand my Facebook page is called Koh murders! - leading the 24, from Norfolk, and killed Hannah, and Miller had on. Tragic death a paradise revelling in her system in 2015 - leading the and never coming back called verdict! Travelling companions the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism Miller 2014 ; [ 48,... At Sairee Beach with another group of travelling companions Tao has taken on a.... Thailand Promoters call the Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death of two British tourists in Thailand the. Times on the island are telling us the trial and never coming.. Thinking that the police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming told the of... To a jury night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men media, human rights,... Van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not require an admission guilt!, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events found a suicide note at hotel! Damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it death island ], the Thai authorities for failing investigate. Illegal workers often reside with friends on the boat later on 2 October courts make little allowance for killings... Major police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and Miller been. N'T go away. `` 2 October travelling companions Thailand Promoters call the Thai island of Tao. Track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations '' 2015 - leading the,...

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