With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. THE BEST Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals (with Photos) 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. Koh Tao Murders March 28, 2022 courtneyjfretwell Uncategorized 1 Comment In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. Koh Tao murders: "Person of interest" (updated Tuesday) Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, Thai police covered up what really happened, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6729031/thailand-koh-tao-island-dad-dead-mystery/, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-30546787, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/17/sister-murdered-backpacker-hannah-witheridge-dies-falling-gravely/, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53797951, https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1282946/police-clarify-koh-tao-death-cases, https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1047575-death-island-riddle%C2%A0-koh-tao-mystery-deepens-as-%E2%80%98healthy%E2%80%99-dad-becomes-tenth-westerner-to-die-in-suspicious-circumstances/, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4680394/Haunting-final-image-Koh-Tao-backpacker-Thai-hang-suicide.html, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/thailands-death-island-tourist-33-13399601, https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime-chiang-rai-thailand/body-of-moldavian-tourist-found-dead-in-sea-off-the-island-koh-tao-sent-to-bangkok-for-thorough-autopsy/, https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/443983/suter-hanspeter-body-found-on-beach-in-chumphon-thailand, Koh Tao Murders, Suspicious Deaths, Fatal Accidents Tribute to 20 Foreigners Tony Lotus & 1Survivor, Tagged: Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, Cases on the Death Island of Koh Tao, nick pearson koh tao death, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. We won't comment on the trial process. What the Murder of Two Young British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. Shelley Bot 2017; Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had some stern words for China over any role it might play in the war in Ukraine. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. Thailand's paradise island murder mystery continues to baffle police, BBC's south-east Asia correspondent reports from Koh Tao. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . The governor of the island said he had instructed the district chief to file criminal charges against the local online news outlet Samui Times in 2017 after it ran an article that questioned the police account of deaths and referred to Koh Tao as Death Island. Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Elise Dallemagne 2017; 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. Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones. Photographs of the bodies have been circulating on the internet. Father weeps at Thai murder photos. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were 851 River diver Videos, Royalty-free Stock River diver Footage In 2014, Koh Tao was the site of the brutal double murders of two British backpackers, but theirs weren't the only suspicious backpacker deaths. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. New Zealand's Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says 185 Kiwis are registered as being in the flood affected areas of Koh Samui and Koh Tao and parts of southern Thailand, including . Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. 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. They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. I am a legal practitioner in Perth, Western Australia who has been following events on Koh Tao very closely since the time of the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on 15 September 2014. The bricklayer from Newport, Isle of Wight, was found at the bottom of the pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach in January 2016. British backpacker murders: Anonymous hacks Thai police websites in [1][11][18] A bloody hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, and a wooden club were found near the bodies,[19][4][14] along with three cigarette butts and a used condom. His body was found at the beach at the Hillside Resort on Koh Tao, on January 1, 2014. Elise's mother Michele van Egten says she does not believe the Thai police's version of events amid fears authorities are working to suppress speculation about the many murders on the island. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Attempted murder by Thai diving instructor, Santi Khokpool in the Fishbowl Beach Bar, Koh Tao on 28-year-old British tourist on 15 August 2020. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. 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. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. Dark side of Koh Tao: The seven tourists found dead on Thailand's 'murder island' after backpacker 'eaten by lizards' Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of. The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. Bernds family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said that the authorities told them he had died of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. "They did a visual post-mortem - just by looking at him they said he died of a broken neck and that his face was looking towards his back. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were 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. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. [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". His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up. And at least six young Brits have all died in suspicious circumstances on the small island of Koh Tao, leading their loved ones to label it "Death Island". Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. Find the perfect agent pastime stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. 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. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. Police major general, Surachate Hakparn, said in an interview that the police have cracked down on crime syndicates on Koh Tao since the backpackers double killing. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. Cart. [55], The defence claimed that the investigation was flawed due to mishandling of forensic evidence, lack of legal representation during interrogations, use of threats and intimidation to secure a confession, and intimidation of witnesses. Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. The families of the young Brits who mysteriously lost their lives in Koh Tao have vowed to find out the truth and say something dodgy is going on., The grieving families have formed a support group following the death of their children on the Thai island, dubbed death island.. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. The autopsy stated he had drowned. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took could identify the murderer. Enterprise. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. [79] Rumours began to circulate, with residents on the island saying the island is controlled by a mafia who "have information about the true culprits", and claimed that the police is covering for them. Her mother, Michele claimed that Elise used a fake name of 'Elise Dubuis' to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao. 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. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. "[78] Another commentary in the paper stated that the "overwhelming public skepticism stems from the police's longstanding notoriety for arresting poor and powerless scapegoats to save rich criminals who can afford to buy their innocence". The former founder of the Samui Times suggests in her new book The curse of the Turtle, released earlier this month by WildBlue Press, that something fishy is going on on that island., She challenges the validity of the investigations conducted by the Thai police claiming she has a lot of evidence and speaks of powerful local families running the island without having to comply with any laws. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted The pictures, which News Corp Australia will not reproduce, were taken on the beach at Koh Tao, where the pair was hacked to death with a garden hoe, allegedly by two Burmese men who confessed to the bloody crime then withdrew their confessions. [34][35], According to the prosecution in the subsequent case, CCTV footage analysed by the police showed three individuals riding a motorcycle to 7-Eleven, where they bought beer and cigarettes, before going towards Sairee Beach. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. [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. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 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. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing. The family has contested the police version of events. Doubts lingered over the conviction of two migrant Burmese workers for the rape and murders, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). On Thursday the 29 th of August 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand handed down its decision to uphold the death penalties for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Burmese migrant workers found guilty of the rape and murder of British holidaymaker Hannah Witheridge and the murder of fellow countryman David Miller in September 2014 on Koh Tao in Thailand. Martin Totland Frilans. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. Ugly Truth of 'Land of Smiles Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. [21][73], The death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment on 14 August 2020 following a royal decree to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and "illustrate the king's clemency". 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". After searching, All rights reserved. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. 92 Visitor. Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. 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. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. The real story of the 2014 Koh Tao Murders : r/myfavoritemurder - Reddit How to go BANGKOK to KOH TAO? Tickets | 2023 - Northern Vietnam 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 . [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. Elise had been traveling around Asia for two years, and before her death had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat on Koh Phangan. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. Hannah Witheridge 2014; Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . 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. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannahs party, our thoughts are with David Millers family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. Buchanan told the Sun Online: They all died in really mysterious circumstances- the Thai version of Christina Annesleys death was that she died of natural causes, she's 23! The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . Bernd Grotsch 2017; Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. [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]. Silje Mathisen 2014; While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. Ben Harrington 2012; The Koh Samui Provincial Court has set 24 December as the date to deliver its judgement on two Myanmar men, Zaw Lin and Zaw Ein Htun (aka Wai Phyo), who are accused of murdering two British tourists on Thailand's Koh Tao Island on September 15 last year. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. [15] Public prosecutors initially rejected the report, asking for "certain flaws" to be fixed, more information to be supplied, and for the report to be made "more succinct". Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. Bangkok Post - Topic 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. 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. Two migrant workers from Myanmar on death row for the 2014 murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao have had their sentences commuted to life in . [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed.