The family have contested the police version of events. Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, the 2 young Burmese men sentenced to death over the Koh Tao British backpacker double murder in 2014, have had their sentences commuted to life in prison by the Thai monarch. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. The bodies of 23-year-old Hanna Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller were discovered in September 2014 on a beach on Koh Tao, a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. Burmese Koh Tao murder ‘guilty’ conviction upheld by Thai Supreme Court. A number of tourist deaths on this island in recent years have shocked the world. There was no signs he was suicidal. 4. Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? 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. Police measure footprints of a man as data is collected from people who work near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, … Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. Dive resorts boast of its crystal-clear waters, and Western tourists flock to its lively beach bars. Respect the Thai people! BANGKOK — Hacker collective group Anonymous last night claimed responsibility for taking down at least 14 police websites in Thailand in a campaign for “justice” in the Koh Tao murder … 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. Two different semen samples collected from her body are the basis for DNA analysis being used to test hundreds of men. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. 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There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. Thai rescue workers wrap the bodies of two British tourists who were found dead on a beach of Koh Tao island in 2014. The bodies of the young Britons were discovered in September 2014 on a beach on Koh Tao, a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. He started another business in neighbouring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. The police quickly closed the enquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to ... 2. Posts on social media said Dallemagne had booked a ticket to Chumphon province, on the mainland, and that her luggage arrived after her death, raising questions of her intentions to take her own life. 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. They followed the animal and discovered that it had been feeding on Elise's remains, which were found among rocks behind the Tanote Family Bay Resort. Tweet. Koh Tao ''Turtle Island'' or Ko Tao is an island in Thailand and is part of the Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. 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. International experts criticized the DNA testing done by the hospital at the time with claims that samples were tampered with in order to falsely incriminate two Burmese workers. Bernd’s family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said that the authorities told them he had died of “heart failure” or had been “bitten by a snake”. It covers an area of about 21 km2. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. Mr Miller, from Jersey, was studying civil and structural engineering at Leeds University and was travelling in South East Asia following a work placement in Australia. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. Photograph: Alamy. Post-mortem examinations revealed that Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, was killed by severe blows to the head and drowning. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. Koh Tao murder victims’ final night retold via CCTV at trial. Burmese bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of murder … Koh Tao murders: Influential island figure vows to … Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. Koh Tao Murder - Thai Police, their scapegoates and tourist trade - Exposed by Anonymous - YouTube. ADVERTISEMENT. A Thai villager lays flowers during a memorial service for two murdered British tourists on Koh Tao island, Two Myanmar migrant workers Win (left) and Saw (right) are suspects in the killing of two British tourists, Two Myanmar migrant workers suspected of killing two British tourists participate in a crime re-enactment, The two suspects (wearing hard hats) during a re-enactment of the alleged crime, Thai policemen conduct DNA tests on staff from two beachside bars as part of the investigation on the murder of two British tourists on the southern resort island of Koh Tao, Police chiefs look at a beach near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found on the island of Koh Tao, Police in Koh Tao said they were liaising with officers in Bangkok to try and detain the second man, A Thai villager lays flowers during a memorial service for two murdered British tourists at the crime scene on a beach of Koh Tao resort island, A police searches for clues near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao, Thai workers carry the bodies of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in the Surat Thani province of southern Thailand, Hannah Witheridge, 23 was killed on the small island of Koh Tao on 15 Septembe, David Miller, 24, was killed on the small island of Koh Tao on 15 September, Thai PM suggests 'attractive' female tourists are not safe, Thai police will conduct DNA tests on every man on island, Thai police offer £13,000 reward for information, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, Thailand: Hannah Witheridge 'raped by two men before being killed', Booking.com promo: 10% extra saving with Level 1 Genius membership, Debenhams discount code for 15% off selected luxury beauty products, Exclusive Ideal World promo code: 20% saving on fitness, Receive a £2 AliExpress promo code with the official App, Argos promo: 20% off selected LEGO toys this Easter. Koh Tao Thailand taraporn_view_dust Courtesy of Retinafunk/Flickr Some of the deaths which have sparked debate as to whether or not the missing and murder cases were investigated properly, include the death of Dimitri Povse. The pair’s bodies were found on a beach on the tiny island, which is marketed as a palm-fringed paradise for foreign tourists, on 15 September. There have been suspicious reports of hand sized bruises found on Luke’s shoulders. 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.An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo hut, including the one Elise had been staying in. The items were still there are 3am and he called police. KOH TAO, Thailand — Promoters call the Thai island of Koh Tao a paradise. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to snorkelling alone on November 8. 1. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. Only if they are not beautiful.” He later apologized, saying that he meant only that foreign visitors should be careful. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Miriam Beelte was raped and murders on the island of Koh Sichang. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan. Source:AAP Their battered bodies were discovered on … A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. In an effort to ease safety fears, the tourism minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has outlined a plan for identification wristbands for visitors and a “buddy system” to keep them safe. There were no signs of a struggle or rape, or other human DNA. All previous suspects have been released and a group of Thai footballers are the latest to be questioned by police amid criticism that the hunt for the killers has stalled. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. Latest Activity. He originally moved to the island in the late 1990’s but left in 2016 after becoming frustrated with the corruption and hostility towards foreign business owners. His body was found at the beach at the Hillside Resort on Koh Tao, on January 1, 2014. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. Close. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to snorkelling alone on November 8. There were no signs of fighting or a struggle, nor were foreign objects or substances that could cause loss of consciousness found in the body.”. Elise Dallemange. Elise had been travelling around Asia for two years, and before her death had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat on Koh Phangan. Nick's father ,Graham, had been the last person to see him when he walked with his son back to where the family was staying. Most distressing among them were the murders of British youngsters Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, who were brutally killed on the southern island of Koh Tao … Collapse. Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry April 19. She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. 3. They were partially undressed and … Thailand’s military ruler Prayuth Chan-ocha had earlier provoked outrage by suggesting that “beautiful” female visitors to his country should not expect to be safe in bikinis. The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticised as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. 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. 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. 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. Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. “They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like,” the prime minister said. Hans Peter Suter. Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said “In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. A local man, Ronnakorn Romruen, 24, reportedly confessed to raping then … Mrs Daniels had been gravely ill, said the … The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. Anonymous slams ‘ugly corruption” of Thai authorities over Koh Tao case. A bloodstained garden hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, was found nearby. "We're confident we have a very high chance of finding the suspects.". British Bricklayer Luke Miller, 26, was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach in January 6, 2016.His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up. The murder investigation was criticized due to the alleged torture of both Myanmar migrant workers and mishandling of evidence by Thai police. Or is Koh Tao just unlucky for visitors or is there something more sinister happening on the beautiful Thai Island and haven for Scuba divers? We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". A spokesman for the Royal Thai Police confirmed that DNA samples were taken from "more than eight" footballers - who reportedly threw a late-night party at the nightclub where the victims spent their final hours - and officers were awaiting the results. A woman Povse had been interested in said he had called her twice on the phone that night but she had not picked up because she had been asleep. 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. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/world/asia/thailand-koh-tao-death-island.html#:~:text=But%20among%20some%20foreigners%2C%20Koh,began%20calling%20it%20Death%20Island.&text=She%20accused%20the%20police%20of,up%20crime%20on%20the%20island. The autopsy stated he had drowned. Collapse. The men, U Zaw Lin and U Win Zaw Htun, both workers on the popular resort island of Koh Tao, were convicted of murder, rape and unlawful entry into Thailand… Koh Tao, which has earned the name Death Island due to a troubling string of tourist deaths, attacks and disappearances, is again in the spotlight for … The family claim the circumstances surrounding his death and the local police's refusal to co-operate with the have led them to believe the death is "suspicious". Koh Tao murders : Two Britons dead in Thailand. “I’m asking, if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Samui Times, defended its reporting in an online post. The authorities said he had died after striking the diving board from which he was jumping. But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is steeped in paradoxes. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before travelling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club.Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. Scapegoats for murders in paradise on Koh Tao, Thailand’s Death Island. The pair were sentenced to death for the murder of 24 year old David Miller and the murder and rape of 23 year old Hannah Witheridge. Today, we have gotten rid of them.”. Respect the Thai people and their culture. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. Elise went 1.5 miles (2.5km) 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. 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. Thailand has been suffering large losses in tourist revenue following the murders and the martial law imposed following May’s military coup. Be responsible and use common sense. ... murder … Final Judgment: Thai Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Myanmar men over Brit killings. 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, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. The chilling toll of young Britons killed in Thailand: Murders, rapes, and 60 unexplained deaths in just two years. He told the Daily Mail: “It has become clearer and clearer that it is quite likely David was stepping in to help a girl who was in trouble.”. 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. 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 … The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. “The Samui Times believes that it is in the best interests of any visitor to the island to be aware of the numerous tourist deaths and the fact that many families of those who died on the island are not satisfied with police investigations.”. The programme, which could impose a curfew on bars, is still being discussed and is expected to meet with resistance from tourists if imposed. Questions “Should Zaw Lin & Wai Phyo have had separate legal representation? 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. Officers have collected 200 DNA samples from people on Koh Tao and the results are expected later this week. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. Ms Witheridge and Mr Miller did not know each other from at home in the UK and are believed to have met on holiday. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. He also took a high profile in “clearing” one of the original suspects, “Nomsod” Toowuchien of the murders. 6. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of “damaging Koh Tao’s reputation by calling it Death Island”. Questions. Share. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). A British student found dead in Thailand was raped by two men while another watched before she was murdered, police have said. However, no toxicology report was conducted. It was revealed yesterday that on April 28 Elise became the latest tourist found … 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 1.30am during a beach patrol. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop by scuba divers in the sea after he disappeared following a night out with his family on New Year's Eve. This topic is closed. Hannah was raped before she was killed. Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted of killing British backpackers Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin have denied killing David Miller and … 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. The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, found dead on island of Koh Tao ... bungalow on the island of Koh Tao, Thai police said. Posted by 1 day ago. Last week police colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen announced the offer of a 700,000 baht (£13,300) reward for information leading to arrests. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. 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". Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as “Death Island” or “Murder Island”. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. Alexandr Bucspun was found dead in the sea floating off the coast of Koh Tao on Tuesday morning near the Sairee Beach where Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in 2014. The 23-year-old student was found dead alongside David Miller on Koh Tao, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Thailand’s 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. They also found a suicide note at the scene. He also had given no indications before his death, that he had suicide thoughts. Choose were to stay in Koh Tao wisely. Posts. As the Thai police chief in 2014, Somyot was instrumental in framing the scapegoats, Zaw Lin & Wai Phyo for the murders of 2 UK backpackers on Koh Tao. Ms Witheridge, who was doing a post-graduate speech and language therapy course at the University of Essex, was travelling with three female friends and had only arrived on Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, three before her death. Hannah was also raped in the attack. Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep diving record at more than 24 metres. Koh Tao … Scapegoats for murders in paradise on Koh Tao, Thailand’s Death Island. Pathologist Dr Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs and face. Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. A Thai villager lays flowers during a memorial service for two murdered British tourists at the crime scene on a beach of Koh Tao resort island EPA In pictures: Thailand beach murders Investigators had no theory to explain her unexpected stopover on Koh Tao on her way back to the mainland and the capital Bangkok. 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". After spending two hours reading the 60 page verdict, the Judge upheld the rulings by two lower courts that found Zaw Lin and … On February, 16, 2015 Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. 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. The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. Previous 1 4 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 24 36 template Next. “We admit that in the past, there was a mafia there that took advantage of tourist. The Thai Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences for two Burmese 26 year old men convicted of murdering two British backpackers on Koh Tao in 2014. 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). The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. His father, Ian, earlier said that he believes his son stepped in to help Ms Witheridge during an altercation. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. There are at least seven cases of reported murders of the foreigners on the southern island of Koh Tao in between the years of 2014-2017 with many doubts about the police investigation which was widely criticised and marked as "Incompetent at best" by the international legal and DNA forensics experts. British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Friends and family remain suspicious of the police investigation and the insistence that Dimitri committed suicide, especially as his hands were tied behind his back. Stay away from drugs. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is … No suspects have yet been arrested for killing Hannah Witheridge, 23, and 24-year-old David Miller but three people are believed to be involved. 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”. But they were sceptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. 8 Koh Tao safety tips. Laura Daniels, 30, has died five years after sister Hannah, 23, was killed on Koh Tao with David Miller of Jersey. X. X. So much so, that Koh Tao was dubbed "death island" and "murder island" by the media. CCTV footage shows them leaving a bar together just hours before their battered bodies were discovered on a beach. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. 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. 5. Lieutenant General Panya Mamen, police commissioner for the island of Koh Tao, told the Bangkok Post: “Two of the suspects raped and killed Witheridge while another one witnessed the murder.