They were indicted on Thursday following a controversial two-month investigation that critics claim lacked both transparency and evidence. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, sometimes referred to as Win Zaw Htun, were arrested on Oct. 2 as the primary suspects in a double-murder on the holiday island of Koh Tao. You can unsubscribe at any time. She was later identified by dental records and previous x-rays. Elise's heartbroken mother, Michele van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events. 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 in 2014. Expats “don’t want to lose their time in paradise,” Earley tells Time, “as it’s cheap, it’s nice living, and it’s very easy to ignore what happens". Koh Tao murder case: Prosecution fails to file rebuttal Burmese pair face two-week wait on Thai high court’s Koh Tao appeal ruling Meanwhile, Burma’s parliament has sent an official letter to the chairman of Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly, requesting justice in the high-profile case. GETTING AWAY WITH IT! When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Police told Elise's mother Michele that her daughter had committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree around three days before she was found. He had not been questioned by police - even though officers had his name in their files. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. Asia Thai police hunt British man after backpackers murdered with hoe and left naked on beach The FCO says such attacks are particularly common around the time of Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin. Then came a stumbling police investigation, speculation about a cover-up to protect a prominent local family, the alleged framing and torture of two young Burmese migrant workers, questions about the handling of key forensic evidence and the controversial observer role of Metropolitan Police officers alongside Thai investigators. A young backpacker has become the latest tourist found dead on Thailand's notorious 'death island'. Breaking news stories can be posted, read and discussed here. Related It's very gruesome.". Fighting for JUSTICE. But it was in this idyllic setting that their horribly bludgeoned bodies were discovered, their blood seeping into the sand and staining the water. Associate Professor Charnkanit Krittiya Suriyamanee, a criminologist and lecturer at the faculty of social science and humanities of Mahidol University, said he doubted the suicide theory citing some irrelevant evidences, according to Chiangrai Times. A sad tale of how having friends in high places elevates certain Koh Tao locals above the law in Thailand. Things to Do in Koh Tao, Thailand: See Tripadvisor's 159,303 traveler reviews and photos of Koh Tao tourist attractions. Thai police claim Elise hung herself - but her devastated mother does not believe them, and thinks somebody else was involved. The death on Koh Tao is the latest in a number of cases involving foreigners. Published 10 July 2015. Also, he noted that the several pieces of rope which were used in the suspected suicide appeared to be different which might suggest that the death was not caused by suicide. But, his sister Maria and the family told the BBC they would not rely on what Thai police said as there was still speculation over the circumstances surrounding the death - and that they had received 'different versions' of what might have happened. Burmese bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of murder … Investigators were checking CCTV from local bars and restaurants and it was reported people were prevented from leaving the island. The Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the death of two British nationals on September 15 on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. With crystal clear water and stunning greenery, the Thai island of Koh Tao is seen as a backpacker haven. Revealed on Thursday, Elise Dallemange, 30, was found dead in the jungle on the island in April, having been half-eaten by lizards, eight days after she said she was leaving to return to her native home in Belgium. But an unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts - including the one Elise had been staying in. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 – but failed to do so. "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". Our. Police colonel Prachum Ruangthong said: "The man was chopped in the back and on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face. According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as many as 11 Britons have been murdered in Thailand since 2009. However, according to Rhys Bonney, an immigration adviser to expats in Thailand, the legality of the businesses are an “extremely grey area”. Luke Miller, a bricklayer from the Isle of Wight, was found dead in a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on January 8 2016, with an inquest earlier this month finding "no evidence" he was murdered. I will give a TLDR at the end of this section because it will probably be longer than the story. The bodies of two murdered British tourists were found on a beach on Thailand's Koh Tao island. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. So much so, that Koh Tao was dubbed "death island" and "murder island" by the media. Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a backpacker was found dead on April 27, Sairee beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found bludgeoned to death, Chillingly, the death of Elise appears to have been suppressed by Thai authorities, Elise Dallemange, 30, here pictured with mum Michele, had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat, Elise had been travelling around Asia for the last two years, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in September 2014, Hannah is pictured (right) with her sister Laura, Luke Miller was found dead in a swimming pool in Koh Tao, Thai police have been accused by his family for not investigating the murder fully, Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015, Christina's parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death, Nick Pearson's parents are convinced their son was murdered in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March, She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers, Family of murdered backpackers urge authorities to be 'lenient' when sentencing, Mystery as Brit tourist Luke Miller found dead on notorious Thai holiday island, Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered – and his killing covered up to protect tourism, Tragic Nikki Grahame made 'special moments with incredible souls' on final holiday before lockdown left her 'struggling', Big Brother's Nikki Grahame spent her final holiday in Australia with her pals, making 'special memories' before the coronavirus pandemic brought things to a halt, Everything you can do tomorrow as beer gardens, shops and gyms reopen - and what's still banned, Pubs, hairdressers, shops and gyms will reopen as England moves into step two of the lockdown roadmap - here's everything you need to know, Masters 2021 LIVE: Final round leaderboard and scores as Matsuyama, Zalatoris and Rahm fight it out, The annual Augusta National golfing spectacle is set for a stunning finale in Georgia, USA, with Hideki Matsuyama leading the charge of the green jacket, Heartbroken Line of Duty fans 'scream' as Superintendent Ted Hastings gets the chop, Line of Duty viewers were left heartbroken as Superintendent Ted Hastings was forced into retirement, with AC-12 being disbanded due to "budget cuts", Prince Philip's final moments were 'gentle, as if someone took him by the hand', The Queen's beloved husband had a 'very, very peaceful death', Sophie, Countess of Wessex, told a member of the Royal Chapel of All Saints church in Windsor, Snow and sleet could mar early beer garden trips and outdoor shopping, Pub-goers flocking to beer gardens on Monday are being urged to pick a spot with outdoor heaters as the Met Office forecasts spring showers and snow easing later into the evening, Female boxer Ebanie Bridges left with gruesome eye injury after brutal bout, Graphic content warning: Shannon Courtenay recorded a points victory over Ebanie Bridges as the Australian was left nursing heavy swelling to her left eye, Model brain damaged by pretzel as allergic reaction left her unable to walk or speak, Chantel Giacalone, 27, begged her friend "don't let me die" the moment she realised she was having a reaction to a peanut butter pretzel she bit into, 100 days of Brexit: 10 things that have gone wrong since UK properly left the EU, It's not been the apocalypse some feared - but from a shellfish ban to a collapse in exports, there are plenty of grim real-life consequences in the 100 days since the UK fully left the EU, Prince Philip's birth certificate unearthed in Greece - and reveals his official first name, Written in Katharevousa Greek by a priest named Spiriodon Tryfonas, the 1921 document said the future Duke was formally named 'Philippos' during his baptism into the Greek Orthodox Church, Full list of businesses that still can't reopen from Monday as lockdown eases, While many services will be available again from 12am, some will remain shut until at least April 12 to continue to prevent against the spread of the pandemic, 'I found out that I actually have two vaginas while giving birth to my son', A woman named Brittany Jacobs has gone viral online after sharing the major discovery she made about herself while giving birth to her first child, at the age of 25. They have been charged with premeditated murder, among other crimes, and could face execution. Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two lives cut short ... Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were murdered on the Thai island of Koh Tao in September 2014. She had medication for a chest infection and was drinking, but the Thai police failed to investigate if the combination was sufficient to kill her.". Its bright coral, sharks and rays bring in divers, hikers enjoy jungle walks and the bar scene 'rages on until dawn'. Post-mortem examinations showed that the young backpackers, who had met on the island while staying at the same hotel, both suffered head wounds and that Hannah had been raped. While backpacking around Thailand in 2010, my first goal was to find somewhere to train, and I found that there at a gym called Island Muay Thai . Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach, Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. 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. The bodies were found 100 metres away from the scene of a beach party, according to a local report.It was believed that attackers may have been waiting to target the pair as they walked off at the end of the party, which was attended by a group of international revellers. Koh Tao Murders, Suspicious Deaths, Fatal Accidents Tribute to 20 Foreigners Tony Lotus & 1Survivor . In a statement following his hearing, James Gissing, who was in Thailand with Luke, said he felt “police were covering up as it was the death of another foreigner on Koh Tao”, referring to the Witheridge and Miller murders. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. 2 talking about this. He was discovered floating in the water by a member of hotel staff, with his death coming just days after a tragic final Facebook post on New Year's Eve, in which he said: "Can honestly say this new year I am living the dream". Our. Fears over the safety of idyllic Koh Tao were heightened after the killings of Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014. The real story of the 2014 Koh Tao Murders Before I begin, this will get long and there are lots of things I need to explain about the island before I can get into the story. Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March and has still not been found. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. "In view of what's happened to David Miller and Hannah Witheridge and various other people I've read about, it just all leads to the same thing. Thailand beach murders: Hannah Witheridge 'was raped by two men before being killed' The 23-year-old student was found dead alongside David Miller on Koh Tao Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. He said at the time: "We don't know how or why she died. He also had to track down a man seen on surveillance footage leaving his daughter's flat hours before she was discovered. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. Brother of island's village chief interrogated. But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial of the two Burmese migrant workers was plagued by accusations of human rights abuses. “Once you’ve been living there for a while, you’ll 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. Nicola Gissing, who was also on holiday with Luke when he died, has claimed her friend’s death was no accident. Something went wrong, please try again later. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. “I’ve never been happier than here,” David, a 24-year-old on holiday with friends, told relatives in Jersey in what was to be his last phone call home. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. The victims of the attack in Koh Tao have been named as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth and 24-year-old David Miller from Jersey, Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. A blood-stained hoe was found near the bodies and was thought to be the murder weapon. The young backpacker had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat, which neighboured the party island of Koh Phangan, in between travelling round Asia, for two years. We had one day on Koh Toa, it was really hard.' Most are running guesthouses, eateries and scuba-diving operations or working as diving instructors. Eight days later when locals living near the island's idyllic Tanote Bay became suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and fourth into the jungle they discovered Elise's half-eaten body on May 27 among rocks behind the Tanote Family Bay Resort. Click here for our ongoing coverage of the killings. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. "The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time.". The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a backpacker was found dead on April 27 (Image: Viral Press). Phone records show that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17 before leaving on a Ferry April 19 - but it is not known why she alighted on Koh Tao instead of continuing on to the mainland. On tiny Koh Tao, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island on New Year's Day 2015 and his death was ruled as suicide despite his hands being tied behind his back. explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Elise fled 2.5km to 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. Killed: Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach in Thailand this morning. Police chief Apichart Boonsrirote said he assigned teams to check all surveillance cameras around the hostel and on the island to find out where she was last seen, The Phuket News reported. According to the Lonely Planet travel guides, Koh Tao welcomes thousands of visitors who "come to worship the turquoise waters offshore". The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars. Death Penalty Upholds For Koh Tao Murders. It was revealed yesterday that on April 28 Elise became the latest tourist found dead on the island of Koh Tao. You can unsubscribe at any time. The island is popular among tourists for its diving locations, white sand beaches and vibrant nightlife. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and 24-year-old David Miller from Jersey, in the Channel Islands. The murders on Koh Tao -- an idyllic island popular with divers -- drew intense media attention from across the world. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. The two Burmese men, identified as Saw and Win, were arrested last week and accused of killing David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September. Koh Tao Murders: Rights Group Demands Fresh Investigation Into Torture Claims To reach us about this article or another matter, please contact us by e-mail at: [email protected] . Hannah was also revelling in her time staying at Sairee Beach with another group of travelling companions. Thai police said a post-mortem examination showed he drowned. Search Dubbed 'Death Island', the illusion of a safe haven has since shattered following the brutal deaths of a number of tourists. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. Authorities said it was the first homicide case on Koh Tao in at least eight years. British holidaymaker Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015 after apparently mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. Elise's bags mysteriously appear to have been loaded onto the ferry she was due to take, and arrived at Chumphon province where she should have caught a bus to the capital. Something went wrong, please try again later. Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. She was part of the sect of the Sathya Sai Baba cult movement, and lived with a self-proclaimed "guru", and left the island on April 17 to return home. But no suicide note or message were recovered and Michele is desperate for information surrounding the mysterious death. Koh Tao murders: Still no arrests, no DNA matches POST REPORTERS Passport photos of David William Miller, and Hannah Victoria Witheridge, both 24, were placed on this memorial on Koh Tao on Wednesday. She said: "I would tell them to do everything in their power to stop them going. Thai deputy police chief, Somyot Pumpanmuang, said results of the DNA tests of 30 men on Koh Tao did not match semen found at the crime scene or the DNA found on other strands of evidence. But her parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death. The images appear to show the mutilated bodies of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, both of whom were found dead on the island of Koh Tao earlier this month. Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists. States of Jersey Police said family liaison officers were working with a family and close relatives of the dead man were thought to have been informed. Arrests expected soon in Koh Tao murders. Koh Tao and My Muay Thai Experience To end by meandering slightly off-topic towards a lighter and more personal subject, Koh Tao was actually the first place that I actually experienced Muay Thai. The horrific murders could badly damage tourism in Thailand which has already been affected by the country's deep political crisis and the introduction of martial law. He said that the victim had been drunk to the extent that he was unable to control himself, he would not have been able to tie himself up so tightly that he died of suffocation. close. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. ... Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. Thailand backpacker murders: Victim's father weeps at photos. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered there in 2014. A LINK to the original news story IS REQUIRED in the original post. The Appeals Court on Wednesday announced its decision to uphold the death sentences for the two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, convicted of murdering Hannah Witheridge (23) and David Miller (24) on Koh Tao in September 2014. The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars. In a 2012/13 New Year's Eve party Londoner Stephen Ashton, 22, was killed in a bar on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Koh Phangan - a resort where the FCO warns British travellers to beware "vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs". It just doesn't go away.". Koh Tao murder case ‘mishandled,’ says legal team amid last-ditch appeal A Burmese legal team has compiled a document outlining what it says was Thai investigators’ mishandling of evidence in the case of a 2014 double murder on the resort island of Koh Tao that was pinned on two Burmese migrant workers now facing death row. English tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death in the early hours of 15 September on a secluded part of Sairee Beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. The trial began on nearby island Koh Samui last Monday and is expected to end on September 25. Each of the five horrific photos – which are too graphic to publish in a family newspaper – are thought to have been taken by officers probing the double murder , for which there is still no confirmed suspect. These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. Koh Tao Murders etc. Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered as they walked back to their hotel rooms in September 2014. It's dangerous. Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving – an activity the area is famed for among backpackers. Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. Share. The men, apprehended soon after the pair's bodies were found, initially confessed to the crime only to retract their statements amid claims they were extracted by torture. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" - Martin Luther King Jr “In my experience this looks like a crime of passion,” said police Col. Prachum Ruangthong, superintendent of the Koh Pha Ngan police district that includes Koh Tao. But Elise had disappeared. The brutality of the killings made headlines worldwide and cast a shadow across Thailand’s image as a safe and carefree destination for 20 million foreign visitors a year. We have reviews of the best places to see in Koh Tao. Getting away with crime on Death Island courtesy of friends in High Places. The 12-member team, led by upper house speaker Khin Aung Myint, is the highest level delegation sent by Burma to observe and assist in the Koh Tao murder case. A blood-stained hoe was found near the bodies and was thought to be the murder weapon. And insecure residency tends to breed compliance. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. Koh Tao Murders, Suspicious Deaths, Fatal Accidents Tribute to 20 Foreigners Tony Lotus & 1Survivor Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. Christina, from Orpington, South East London, died shortly after arriving on Koh Tao. Michelle, who says the death would have gone unnoticed if not for her public appeal for help, said: "I do not believe what the police have told us. The 25-year-old's mum Tracey told a documentary about the island she would warn parents not to allow their children to travel to the island. The mother told Der Farang magazine that she had been promised an autopsy report - but has still not been delivered. Michele claims that Elise used a fake name of "Elise Dubuis" to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao as she travelled via the island on a ferry bound for Chumphon province on her route back to capital Bangkok. Body Found: 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge is from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Tragic Loss: David Miller, 24, is from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Island Paradise: Koh Tao island is an increasingly popular tourist destination, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers, Tragic Nikki Grahame made 'special moments with incredible souls' on final holiday before lockdown left her 'struggling', Big Brother's Nikki Grahame spent her final holiday in Australia with her pals, making 'special memories' before the coronavirus pandemic brought things to a halt, Everything you can do tomorrow as beer gardens, shops and gyms reopen - and what's still banned, Pubs, hairdressers, shops and gyms will reopen as England moves into step two of the lockdown roadmap - here's everything you need to know, Masters 2021 LIVE: Final round leaderboard and scores as Matsuyama, Zalatoris and Rahm fight it out, The annual Augusta National golfing spectacle is set for a stunning finale in Georgia, USA, with Hideki Matsuyama leading the charge of the green jacket, Heartbroken Line of Duty fans 'scream' as Superintendent Ted Hastings gets the chop, Line of Duty viewers were left heartbroken as Superintendent Ted Hastings was forced into retirement, with AC-12 being disbanded due to "budget cuts", Prince Philip's final moments were 'gentle, as if someone took him by the hand', The Queen's beloved husband had a 'very, very peaceful death', Sophie, Countess of Wessex, told a member of the Royal Chapel of All Saints church in Windsor, Snow and sleet could mar early beer garden trips and outdoor shopping, Pub-goers flocking to beer gardens on Monday are being urged to pick a spot with outdoor heaters as the Met Office forecasts spring showers and snow easing later into the evening, Female boxer Ebanie Bridges left with gruesome eye injury after brutal bout, Graphic content warning: Shannon Courtenay recorded a points victory over Ebanie Bridges as the Australian was left nursing heavy swelling to her left eye, Model brain damaged by pretzel as allergic reaction left her unable to walk or speak, Chantel Giacalone, 27, begged her friend "don't let me die" the moment she realised she was having a reaction to a peanut butter pretzel she bit into, 100 days of Brexit: 10 things that have gone wrong since UK properly left the EU, It's not been the apocalypse some feared - but from a shellfish ban to a collapse in exports, there are plenty of grim real-life consequences in the 100 days since the UK fully left the EU, Prince Philip's birth certificate unearthed in Greece - and reveals his official first name, Written in Katharevousa Greek by a priest named Spiriodon Tryfonas, the 1921 document said the future Duke was formally named 'Philippos' during his baptism into the Greek Orthodox Church, Full list of businesses that still can't reopen from Monday as lockdown eases, While many services will be available again from 12am, some will remain shut until at least April 12 to continue to prevent against the spread of the pandemic, 'I found out that I actually have two vaginas while giving birth to my son', A woman named Brittany Jacobs has gone viral online after sharing the major discovery she made about herself while giving birth to her first child, at the age of 25.