[4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. After finally receiving independent legal counsel, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, who had no prior criminal records, claimed they had been tortured during interrogation and recanted. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object, resulting in head and face wounds. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home. Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, was raped and beaten to death. Thailand backpacker murders: bar workers found guilty of killing British tourists, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. This is troubling when set against the allegations of torture made by the accused. Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Hannah Witheridge murder: Mum begged backpacker not to go to Thailand [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Read about our approach to external linking. Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered And the shambolic investigation also didnt help.. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were brutally murdered while staying on Koh Tao. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey, were bludgeoned to death. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. A verdict is expected in October and they could face the death penalty if convicted. Theres no work permit that allows you to work in 15 different locations [under the sea], he says. Ive not been threatened, but Ive too much to lose, he says. "[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". [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. They also. The largest and most developed is Koh Samui, which also boasts the archipelagos only international airport. [42][43] The police said the suspects' DNA matched a sample of semen taken from Witheridge's body, and to the hoe and cigarette butts found near the body.