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. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, from Burma, were sentenced to death in 2015 for killing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, who were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao one year earlier. Your email address will not be published. Millers family also travelled to Koh Samui, the larger island near Koh Tao where the trial was held, to see some of the evidence. They said in a family statement: 'We confirm that our beautiful girl Laura passed away on Monday, September 16. But it unraveled just as quickly. In a statement issued late Tuesday Miller's family described the engineering graduate as "hard-working, bright, conscientious, with everything to look forward to.". 'There wasn't a bad bone in her body. 'Our family is broken and will never be the same again. 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Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2f9297c9e12a6d The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach in the Thai island of Koh Tao on September 15, 2014 Credit: Tony Witheridge 6 The stunning Koh Tao islands in . Nevertheless, few have rallied to the defense of the accused. There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. An inquest into the death of Miss Witheridge which was held in Norwich in February 2016 heard how her family described her as 'a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman'. 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If youre not going to like the romance in movies, then you should probably go for a movie like this to see what a real romance can be like. The crimes brutality amid Koh Taos insular, backpacker charm caused an international sensation and threatened to further weaken a tourist industry already reeling from the military coup of May 22, 2014, which saw hundreds arbitrarily detained and draconian new controls imposed on freedom of speech and assembly. The 18-day trial of the two defendants, divided into three equal parts over several weeks, began on July 8. Nice and strong, grins the heavily tattooed barman. 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Human-rights groups expressed serious concerns. The fact that she is not here, affects us every day.'. With tourism critical to Thailand's e. A British male, thought to have known the . One of Wai Phyos former employers, who saw him soon after Sept. 15 and noticed no perceivable change in his demeanor, has refused to be a character witness or be named by TIME. Give the perfect moment a perfect finish with editing tools 2 and smart filters. The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, have had their "hearts broken" by a second death. They both decide to take a backpacking trip to Thailand before pursuing Master's Degrees in their respective fields. Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com. Mrs Witheridge paid tribute to her daughter, saying: 'She was a beautiful and fun loving woman who filled the room with love and happiness just by being there.'. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Two years after her sister was murdered, Laura wrote a Facebook postwarning people not to travel to Thailand claiming Westerners are hated in the country. Thai police take DNA swabs and footprints of migrant workers yards from the scene of the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. Laura revealed previously how her family had been 'drop-kicked into the pits of hell itself' when Hannah was murdered. In their verdict, a panel of two judges said the death sentences handed down by lower courts would be upheld as the men had been found guilty of murder and rape on the basis of evidence and forensic results. 'The death sentence against the two accused and their conviction should be reversed and quashed,' Andy Hall, an adviser to the men's legal team, said in a statement to media. 'Countless times, I have logged in to Facebook and seen statuses made by people who know both Hannah and I, who have gone out [to Thailand] anyway. Jon Jones fight time UK: What time does UFC 285 start tonight? Following the murders, Koh Tao earned the nicknamed of 'death island' due to the number of western tourists who have died or gone missing there. 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. But many have concerns that the scene was contaminated immediately after the discovery of the bodies; myriad officials, journalists and even bewildered tourists were seen traipsing through the area while evidence was still being gathered. I love this photo of hannah and david thailand in hannah and david thailand at the studio. Family friend Keith Kyriacou said: "The whole of Hemsby is in shock of hearing the news at the loss for the Witheridge family. 'On my darkest days, I think about the people who have thrown themselves out of planes, run significant distances and those who have sacrificed precious pounds from tight budgets to support us. Tests performed by the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine also confirmed that 23-year-old Witheridge had sexual relations shortly before her death. The mass shooting occurred around 12:30 p.m . In fact, says Sean Turnell, a professor and expert on Burmese economics at Australias Macquarie University, The economic circumstances of Myanmars majority rural population are now marginally worse than before the reforms were launched.. Water found in slain man's lungs; semen in female victim, published : Now, Im not sure if thats because Im older or just because Im more of a visual person. "The pain of this loss is indescribable and our family very much need time and privacy during this unbearable time.". Our hearts are broken, our lives shattered again," the statement said. On tiny Koh Tao alone, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. A MILLIONAIRE and his wife were both found dead in a pool on Thailand's "death island" where two British backpackers were murdered. Hours later, their . David Miller and Hannah Witheridge only met each other by chance, when they and their friends stayed in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, a small backpacker complex overlooking the white sand sweep of Sairee beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Around three weeks ago, on September 15, their bodies were found together . Your email address will not be published. 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 rooms and serve drinks to the coppery throngs of tourists. Hannah, 23, and her friend David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are two of an estimated 2 million irregular Burmese migrants, along with smaller numbers from neighboring Cambodia and Laos, currently working low-paid jobs in comparatively thriving Thailand. Speaking exclusively to TIME at Koh Samui Prison, both appear much younger than their 22 years. The names of the tourists were first announced in a Sky News tweet. 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 couldnt be capable of such brutality. I love this photo of hannah and david thailand in hannah and david thailand at the studio. Foreigners die surprisingly often here. Additional troubleshooting resources. Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court from a nearby prison on December 8, 2014 in Koh Samui, Thailand. She and her husband . Miss Witheridge's parents Tony and Susan Witheridge announced Laura's death today, saying they had been left in 'indescribable' pain. Hannah died shortly before she was due to start the second year of a speech and language masters degree at the University of Essex. Miller, a year older and from Jersey, also suffered blows to the head and left to drown in the shallow surf. In 2017, Belgian Elise Dallemagne was found dead in the jungle of Koh Tao in what police said was suicide by hanging - though her family rejected that explanation. Back on Koh Tao, authorities have scrambled to blot out the tragedy. Hanna: Created by David Farr. But in Thailand, the police perform the entire process. The bodies of David, 24, from Jersey and Hannah, 23, from Norfolk were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. A pair of Christopher Wares blood-stained pants were found in luggage belonging to David Miller, who, along with romantic partner Hannah Witheridge, were killed Monday on Koh Tao. Most are running guesthouses, eateries and scuba-diving operations or working as diving instructors. 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. It will never make any sense. And the shambolic investigation also didnt help.. To be able to work on Koh Tao, illegal Burmese migrants paid a 500-baht ($15) bribe each month, plus another 500 baht if they want to use a motorbike without a Thai driving license. Phyo and Lin initially confessed to raping Miss Witheridge before beating her and Mr Miller to death, but later recanted, saying they were tortured. Hannah Witheridge's sister posted online that her family had been poorly and insensitively treated by Thai authorities following the backpacker's tragic death Siobhan Fenton Monday 11 January 2016 . Thailand beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's family beg for removal of graphic crime scene images circulating online Oct 08, 2014 16:49 By Andy Lines Photos showing the battered bodies of Hannah, 23, and David Miller, 24, emerged soon after news of their murders. The same year Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova , 23, vanished from her hostel along with her diving gear. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan). With Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, ine Rose Daly, Cherrelle Skeete. True Crime: In September of 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Koh Tao's famous Sairee beach, dead. Thai king commutes Myanmar men's death sentence over Britons' murder, Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death, British backpacker murder case that put Thailand on trial, WhyUK role in backpackers murder case still worries rights groups, Why UK role in case still worries rights groups, in a statement released by the Foreign Office. You will get the updates within 24 hours. Read about our approach to external linking. . There are no official figures for the number of expats who call Thailand home, but it likely runs into the hundreds of thousands. I did feel safe, but that is scary.. Few of the visitors on Sairee Beach today are even aware the murders took place. Traditional longtail boats, a rainbow of scarves . Take a look at any of the photos below and tell me which one is more adventurous. Of the 25 million foreign visitors who touch down in Thailand each year, half a million grace Koh Tao, the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Thai Gulf. Thai police take DNA swabs and footprints of migrant workers yards from the scene of the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. Thai police take DNA swabs and footprints of migrant workers yards from the scene of the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. 9 Oct 2014. A year after Millers death his parents unveiled a memorial for him, a bench on the north coast of his home island, inscribed, Never let a person sit alone. Drugs play a key role. Theories abound on Koh Tao about who killed Miller and Witheridge. (Both families declined to comment when contacted by TIME.). Its the ones who are more adventurous who appear to be the most interesting. 17 Sep 2014 at 13:36. With tourism critical to Thailand's economy, police were extremely keen to catch the culrpit - But is the island holding more than one secret? mi.) Many believe the true culprits are local, and these suspicions were fueled after a Scottish friend of Miller fled the island claiming to have had his life threatened by local thugs. Swimsuit Issue 2016: Model Hannah Davis poses for the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue on August 30, 2015 in Tahiti. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. Mr Miller's father told ITV News that he did not want the Burmese migrants to be executed even though they 'have done something quite terrible and justice has been given to them'. Miller had been a student at Victoria College, a fee-paying school on Jersey. Thai police believe that Hannah may have turned down the advances of a local man after reports emerged that the pair were seen arguing with an alleged gangster in a bar. I mean, if you are a guy who is into extreme sports, you probably like women who are more of a lot more fun to be around. - Founded pc: the davids . Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way, said Millers family in a statement at the opening of the trial. That the victims were tourists automatically drew more attention, says Thai political analyst Saksith Saiyasombut. Rex Features. Legally, it would seem quite easy to shut these dive shops down., Insecure residency tends to breed compliance. , updated The family of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge has been hit by a fresh tragedy with the sudden death of her sister. Police chip away at network of 'Inspector Sua', Warning issued after 2 weeks of smog in Lampang, Greece braces for more rail-crash protests, Manila: Chinese ships 'loitering' near disputed island. These two couples are probably the most obvious examples of this, but there are plenty of other examples. David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, didn't know each other before they met on holiday in Thailand in September. When I first saw the photos of hannah and david thailand, I was stunned at how similar they were in . The only items still available for retesting were objects found around the crime scene, including the suspected murder weapons, but one witness claimed that these had been washed. The body of Hannah Witheridge, from Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, was found alongside that of fellow traveller David Miller on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand last year. Sebastian Murphy-bates For Mailonline
They threatened to kill me, saying: We can throw you into the sea and feed your corpse to the fish.. As of July last year, the total stood at ten. 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. Thailands National Human Rights Commission investigated these allegations, but progress has been glacial, not least because police representatives failed to turn up to four arranged meetings. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Because we have learned for generations to take care of visitors. A brand new police station has been built with 40 full-time officers replacing the five previously based here. The largest and most developed is Koh Samui, which also boasts the archipelagos only international airport. The court heard he set up a fake Twitter profile in Hannah's name which Laura described as 'cruel, completely inaccurate and callous.'. All rights reserved. 2022 Casefile True Crime Podcast. 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 . Later he is filmed with . However, according to Rhys Bonney, an immigration adviser to expats in Thailand, even the legality of scuba-diving instructors is an extremely gray area as Thai work permits are specific to particular company premises. Miss Witheridge of Hemsby near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was raped before she and Mr Miller from Jersey were battered to death with a hoe on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on September 15, 2014. If youre one of those people who dislikes the romance in movies, you should really check this out. The pair insisted that they were innocent and claimed that their earlier admissions were as a result of being tortured. And right in the foreground, rising proudly from sliver sands, protrude a scattering of granite boulders, a furtive relic of this tranquil 21-sq-km (8 sq. (Police deny these allegations.). Once youve been living there for a while, youll turn a blind eye to some pretty sketchy stuff, says Mike Earley, 30, from New Zealand, who spent six months on the island working as a DJ. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Thailand beach murders: Final CCTV pictures of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller hours before killings The pair were filmed separately on a night out on the island of Koh Tao. Im not saying that men are the only ones who like adventurous women, but the ones that do tend to be the ones who like the ones who are more adventurous. Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun were quickly arrested and later sentenced to death in 2015, a verdict that was upheld by the appeal court in 2017. "Laura was being treated in hospital. Her daughter had tried to allay her fears by talking to them by Skype or sending messages every day, she said. I dont really know about the best couple for the job, but I do know that a lot of people like their coupledom. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. They lost an appeal in 2017. He may have crawled or been dragged back to the beach. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24 . Burmese migrant workers crossing the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in the bordertown Mae Sot, Thailand. Well, I mean, I have no idea what extreme sports are, but I know that at least some people like girls who are a lot more fun to be around. Wai Phyo says officers removed his clothes and left him naked in a freezing room for 20 minutes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They believe she was murdered while trying to escape from a Buddhist cult. Naturally, a pall of silence engulfs this clannish, cliquey atoll, owing in no small part to the legal standing of its foreign contingent. Thailand is one of the world's 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 country's reputation. Your photos are automatically organized and searchable so you can easily find the photo you're looking for. Her post which was later removed suggested she believed that the two convicted men might be innocent. But Ms Daniels criticised the 'bungled' police investigation into the murders in a Facebook post in January 2016. 2040 / 2557, The Curse of Turtle Island: The true story of Thailands Backpacker Murders Suzanne Buchanan, Murder in Paradise: The Murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, Backpackers terror after Thai mafia death threat, CCTV footage of murdered tourists released, Two Burmese arrested in Koh Tao murder case, Chilling Koh Tao attack by masked men at the same spot where Hannah & David murdered, Koh Tao Murder Death Island Ian Yarwoods YouTube channel, The mother of British backpacker Hannah Witheridge begged her not to go to Thailand News.com.au, Thailand murders: British brothers questioned BBC News, Thailand beach murders: Poignant picture shows smiling David Miller on boat during fateful holiday The Mirror, Forensic reports into British murders in Thailand leaked to local media Sydney Morning Herald, Thai police eye bisexual link in tourist double murder New York Post, Thai motorbike gang mugged British women night before backpacker couple were murdered on Koh Tao island The Telegraph, Thailands paradise island murder mystery BBC News, Thailand: Murder in the Land of Smiles The Diplomat, Thailand beach murders: families pay tribute to British tourists The Guardian, Thailand murders: two British brothers questioned The Guardian, Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge two lives cut short The Guardian, This is how we killed them The Daily Mail, Concerns over trial of Burmese men charged with murder of UK tourists The Guardian, National Crime Agency Helped Get Two Men Sentenced To Death In Thailand BuzzFeed News, Thailand backpfacker murders: Victims father weeps at photos BBC News, Universal doubt clouds perfect Koh Tao murder investigation Coconuts Bangkok, Koh Tao defence: Suspects must be acquitted Bangkok Post, Thailand murders: Two men found guilty and face death for UK killings BBC News, Outcry over death penalties upheld for Koh Tao murders Foundation for Education and Development, This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao Time, Familys Agonising Search for Information into Sons Thailand Death Chiang Rai Times, Nick Pearson Thailand death: Mum believes son was murdered BBC News, Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered and his killing covered up to protect tourism The Mirror, Brits ambushed by masked men on Death Island beach where UK tourists were killed The Mirror, Thai paradise gains reputation as Death Island New York Times, Murder Island combed for German cult leader Bangkok Times, Thailand: Drop cases for online reporting on alleged rape Human Rights Watch, We want the truth: Our kids all died on Koh Tao death island The Sun, Injustice echoes from all sides two years after Koh Tao murders Khasod English, Contesting narratives: the Koh Tao Murders Erik Cohen for Asian Anthropology, Help support our beautiful Hannah GoFundMe, DashPass by DoorDash Save money, access members-only offers, and get 50% off your first order up to $15 value with promo code CASEFILE2022 when you spend $12 or more, Best Fiends Download Best Fiends for free, BetterHelp Get 10% off your first month of professional counselling with a licensed therapist, SimpliSafe Claim a FREE indoor security camera and 20% off with interactive monitoring, Article Get $50 off your first order of $100 or more.