This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. 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. 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. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. 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. It covers an area of about 21 km2. [31][65] Jane Taupin, an Australian forensic scientist brought in by the defence, claimed that the timeline of DNA extraction was dubious; a rapid analysis of DNA samples had happened in less than 12 hours,[34] which she said was unusual because "extracting DNA from mixed samples was difficult and time-consuming". Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. 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.. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. 1. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted of killing British backpackers . 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. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. [67][21][68] The conviction was primarily guided by the DNA evidence,[67][69] and the court said it did not consider their confessions in making the judgement. Hi there! A backpacker from Belgium, Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanged in the hillson the island on April 28, 2017. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. 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. "I got him home and they had a proper postmortem - most of his bones were broken but the one bone that wasn't broken was his neck and there was no evidence of his face looking towards his back. It leaves Khao San Songserm at either 1800 or 1900. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. [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". 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. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. 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. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. 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. [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. But they were skeptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. Bernd Grotsch 2017; Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. From: kohtao. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. Silje Mathisen 2014; We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. 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. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. 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. When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. 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. [36] Footage near the crime scene also showed one of the three men running into a shortcut. [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. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. There were no signs he was suicidal. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. Martin Totland Frilans. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". But, he said that most of these would have been present prior to his death, although he could not completely rule out the possibility that Nick had been attacked. In August 2020, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo had their death sentences commuted to life in prison to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. [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. "There was no compassion at all- he had to go down to identify the body which he couldn't do and while he was sitting there the police were just laughing. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. Burmese migrant workers made up an additional 5,000, around 2,000 of these being illegal immigrants who bribe local police by paying 500 baht each month. 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. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. They claim they did not receive an autopsy report and say his body was sent against their wishes to the same Bangkok hospital that carried out botched reports on the bodies of two Brits murdered on the same island in 2014. Read about our approach to external linking. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. Cart. Mr Zaw and Mr Wai (also known as Win Zaw Htun), both 22 and migrants from Myanmar, also known as Burma, were arrested several weeks later. 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. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. As the Witheridge family prepares for Hannahs funeral, her parents, Sue and Tony Witheridge, released this statement: Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear. Koh tao murders Stock Photos and Images (50) See koh tao murders stock video clips RM 2D0FFR6 - A police searches for clues near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao September 19, 2014. (Washington D.C., February 27, 2023) - The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, used to prosecute "terrorism" cases in Saudi Arabia, has charged six former prominent SCC judges and four former judges of the High Court, the country's supreme court, with "high treason" - a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia - in its first secret hearing of the case on February 16, 2023, said . In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. [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". Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. 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 . There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. 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. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . 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. 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. Most mainstream media provide only superficial accounts of what has been happening on the island and their published information is often inaccurate and understated the seriousness of the situation. Nick Pearson 2014; What really happened there? How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. 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. Zaw Lin, front, and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun), rear, arrive at the court in Koh Samui, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Only if they are not beautiful." The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. [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]. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? 2040 / 2557", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koh_Tao_murders&oldid=1135707447, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 10:00. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes.