Just hours before he died, David was talking to us with his usual enthusiasm, describing the beauty of Koh Tao and the friendliness of the Thai people., 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.. Prosecutors alleged that the double murder of Paul and Maggie was part of an effort by Murdaugh to gain sympathy and distract others from his significant financial crimes. Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. 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. Pictures of Thai murder victim Hannah Witheridge's body - Cosmopolitan 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. Of course tourists get drunk and alcohol makes you do crazy things. I am Tom an avid adventure traveler from The Netherlands. Westerners were ignored as long as you didn't cause any problems. Hi! Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. Something went wrong, please try again later. Plus crime scene photos. They lock them up in a BKK prison and torture them for a confession. No staff were in the area when their deaths happened, Koh Tao police chief Kriangkrai Kraikaew said. They have been charged with premeditated murder, among other crimes, and could face execution. In the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. Yes I know that drinking and driving is totally accepted in Koh Tao, but try to not be one of those diving class students that show up in the morning all bruised because they fell off their motorbike driving drunk back home. This is not a specific safety tip for Koh Tao, but everywhere around the world. Maybe if it was more common knowledge, the murders wouldn't have happened. All of the witnesses will be investigated as well. Theres no proof because you cant get proof because the authorities are corrupt.. To get around Koh Tao at night you should have your own motorbike or take an expensive taxi ride. Questions surround her death. Talk:Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia Two Burmese men charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller went on trial on Wednesday. He called for help from staff but his parents were both dead when their bodies were pulled from the water. Mr Sachathamakul was the co-owner and chief executive officer of the Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach hotel and owned the Bangkapi Mansion apartments in Bangkok. In August 2020 the death sentence was commuted to life in prison under royal pardon by the decree. Prices for taxi rides in Koh Tao are fixed and they all stick to it. Click on the picture to read all about it. Koh Tao looks like a paradise, but it's known among Brits as 'death island' Credit: Alamy In a new Sky documentary, Death On The Beach, families open up on how they believe Thai police covered up . Click here for our ongoing coverage of the killings. Photo: CSI LA. (via Kusonsattha Rescue Service) Details are emerging on the tragic drowning death of a billionaire hotel owner and his wife in Koh Tao last week as police investigate further. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. In recent years, however, the unexplained deaths and disappearances of many of those tourists have earned it a reputation as a death trap. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? This goes on all day, trying to talk to each other but not wanting the tourists to hear about it, at least not from us. The 23-year-old had tweeted this picture on Monday, revealing she was on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand 'I have found an affordable bungalow to move to. The bar owner was fairly high up in one of the mafias and had killed a few Burmese people previously so it didn't surprise me. So let's look at the facts which I believe to be true. They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 but failed to do so. The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. Unfortunately a lot of motorbike accidents happen on the island and it sincerely is a Koh Tao safety issue. Thailand Murders: Hannah Witheridge's Family Beg, 'Please Don't Share His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. I'm also not a great writer. You never know who you are up to, dont let a small issue ruin your holiday. 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. Thai police said a post-mortem examination showed he drowned. It was something shocking to see. Let me help you as in my article Travel to Thailand or Philippines I compare my two favorites island destinations! But an unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts - including the one Elise had been staying in. My passion to inspire other people to travel the world turned into a lifestyle. This time was different. Police ruled his death a suicide but couldnt explain why his hands were tied behind his back. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. This idyllic island in Thailand has long been popular with tourists for its pristine beaches, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and turquoise waters. They are also being bribed, they are under intense pressure from the British government for any kind of 'justice', they want it pinned on a Burmese guy so the Thai reputation doesn't plummet, the police have planted fake evidence or they just don't care. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. It will always be you against the island. I had woken up between 4:30-5:30, as my day at work started at either 5 or 6. She was fun, honest and loved life. On 15 September, the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Sairee Beach on the island of Koh Tao, between 4 and 5 am, a few hours after their deaths. Are you into partying then book your accommodation close to Sairee Beach. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. Blood on the floor of the feedroom where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. On tiny Koh Tao, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. One of them was at the scene and I went to talk to him. It's dangerous. I drove to work and on the way saw a small crowd of people gathered to the side of BAR, on the beach. Koh Tao murders has been listed as one of the Social sciences and society good articles under the good article criteria. 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. 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In case you've missed it. For this case to rest, its very important to re-examine that DNA material and find out whose DNA profile it really is, Hall said. The publicity about their allegedly botched investigation began in 2014 with the brutal murder of two British tourists, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, on Koh Tao island off Surat Thani. It's very gruesome.". Christina, from Orpington, South East London, died shortly after arriving on Koh Tao. The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, have had their "hearts broken" by a second death. The pool was also supposed to be empty, because it was closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions.. The Thai population were the business owners. Weve all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. But remember this only hurts your wallet! Thailand's Dark Secret: Should Tourists Avoid Koh Tao? - Culture Trip Two migrant workers accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the Thai tourist . Stay away from drugs! For the life of me I can't remember the name of the bar and can find no reference to it on the Internet. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. They were at the same party together. In April 2017, she was found hanged in the jungle. . Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia With all due respect but I obviously have no idea how a small blonde girl would feel visiting Koh Tao. He said autopsies to determine the cause of the deaths were expected in about two weeks. I believe they met up whilst drunk at a previous bar. It's not like I could do anything but get in the way anyway. Whether this means they were having sex, making out or anything else I'm not sure. Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving an activity the area is famed for among backpackers. We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. 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. Ratish has told police his father had diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea. So how safe is Koh Taoi? The reason you didn't go there was because it was mafia ran and owned. The only reason I can think for her to lie is to get some media attention, but that seems more likely to go badly than positively when the truth came out. The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. It was obvious to us what was happening, they'd been bribed by the mafia. Corpse photos of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on internet The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. On New Years Day in 2015, he was found hanging in a bungalow. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo . 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. Mafia ran the place, Meth was becoming a plague amongst them. Three judges sat high above the small court room on Koh Samui, a larger island near Koh Tao, where witnesses will testify over the next three days. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Passport photos of David William Miller, and Hannah Victoria Witheridge, both 24, were placed on this memorial on Koh Tao on Wednesday. It's the closest I can imagine to what people in the military feel for each other. It doesn't matter that multiple witnesses can place them in a different location at the time of the murder. Unfortunately there is a dark side of Koh Tao and some people call it the Wild Wild West Island. Dont forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. People speculated that seeing foreign tourists walk around wearing no clothes all day, having sex on the beach etc pushed them over the edge. Flights are faster, but more expensive, trains more comfortable than busses, but overnight, etc, etc. There are three theories, nobody ever got an answer to which is correct and mostly like it's a combination. Also, a documentary here: Surviving Evil: Wolves at the Door The crime's brutality amid Koh Tao's insular, backpacker charm caused an international sensation and threatened to further weaken a tourist industry already reeling from the military coup of. 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. Secret Thailand travel tip: did you know that flying from either Phuket or Krabi towards Chiang Mai is 50% cheaper than the other way around. According to the Lonely Planet travel guides, Koh Tao welcomes thousands of visitors who "come to worship the turquoise waters offshore". Add in everyone at BAR being on Meth and they took their anger out on them. Alex was charged with Maggie and Paul's murders days after he was formally disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. My gf had been on the island 18 months longer than me and is one of those people who just knows everyone. I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. A blood-stained hoe was found near the bodies and was thought to be the murder weapon. Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao, the second police officer at the scene, said he found David Miller face down in the surf and Hannah Witheridge 12 metres away on the beach. Hannah was also revelling in her time staying at Sairee Beach with another group of travelling companions. Enough experiences to tell you that YES you always have to be aware of what is happening around you and be responsible in what you do. 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. Will Koh Tao ever be able to get rid of that negative image? 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. A case of wrong time, wrong place. Well if talking about the Koh Tao Mafia here you go. For any of you who have been to Koh Tao, it was the bar on the far end of the yellow brick road, past the Go Pro shop in Sairee. Koh Tao has already been struggling with a very bad reputation after the Koh Tao murders in September 2014 when a British couple was killed and left behind on Sairee Beach. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. The case has shocked Britain. 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. I got a clear view of Hannah's body, but not David's. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Koh Tao Police Major Jiraphob Puridech said the couple had been sitting at the pool bar before hopping into the pool for a swim. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. Why are government officials going along with this with no/circumstantial evidence at best? "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. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. 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. Thanks a lot! Two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were arrested over the crime. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. Due to many many reasons I doubt the definitive version of the story will ever emerge. Buying your tickets for boats, trains, flights and busses is the safest and most reliable online. RME8CHF9 - Mae Sot, Thailand. Expats dont want to lose their time in paradise, Earley tells Time, as its cheap, its nice living, and its very easy to ignore what happens". These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. The Koh Tao murdersinvolved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Disturbing online photos leave family of backpacker Hannah Witheridge disgusted By Sophie Goddard 9 Oct 2014 Rex Features Last month, the tragic revelation that backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23,. Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered as they walked back to their hotel rooms in September 2014. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. He had no broken bones. Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine. I trusted the people I called friends with my life, literally. Photo: EPA . And insecure residency tends to breed compliance. Click on the link to read my article about it and where to go. A team of pro-bono lawyers and human rights activists are working as the defence, wearing black gowns and sitting in the court. Elise's heartbroken mother, Michele van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results They will also look at any health conditions that might have been a factor. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope A key issue for the defence is whether DNA samples, taken from sputum and semen, which the prosecution says links the Burmese migrant workers to the murder could be independently checked. Since I found out about 12Go Asia, traveling in Thailand become much more convenient. 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. Metropolitan police detectives were sent to Thailand in 2014 to look over the case and report back to officials and the families. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. With such incredible sunsets on the main party beach, the party starts early. 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". The families of the deceased both present for the first time at the hearing have asked for privacy. Try it yourself below! It's pretty common knowledge that torture doesn't get you the truth, it gets you what you want to hear. Yes, I have been there and yes I have smoked weed myself multiple times when traveling to Koh Tao. Thai people are lovely, but just like in any other tourist destination around the world the taxi drivers in Koh Tao are idiots. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. Her family are suspicious. Taking into account the multiple eye witnesses saying it, the guys reputation and history and aliases for the Burmese guys it's hard to see any other possibility. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. CAUTION, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS! Make sure you have a seat by buying your ticket online and safe a lot of hassle. This news blows up in the UK. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. koh tao murders crime scene photos Koh Tao - Thai Police - Their scapegoats, Tourist Trade Exposed by Anonymous Greetings world, We are Anonymous. So the answer to who is the murderer is the owner of BAR, the same one their bodies were found the closest to, and a known mafia hangout. What To Pack For Thailand | Packing List With 40 Things To Bring. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of. 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. Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach. Due to not remembering the name, I will refer to it as BAR. 'This is how we killed them': Chilling moment two Burmese barmen showed Defense lawyers for the two men later alleged that police had rushed the investigation to . 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. There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. Andy Hall, a migrants rights activist from Britain who is working for the defence, told the Guardian outside the court: Recently in the last few weeks weve got some significant information from the UK side and its raises a lot of very important inconsistencies between the Thai evidence and the the evidence from the UK. He did not give details on what evidence UK authorities had provided. The photos show his wife . But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial. Koh Tao: Millionaire couple found dead on Thailand's Death Island Don't let your Thailand holiday be ruined by your own stupid mistakes! It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks! Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. Ugly Truth of 'Land of Smiles I will never forget the day I turned 30 and I cheered with friends until early morning 02.00 am on Sairee Beach. It was exactly like that for five years. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. Get all the info about prices, time tables, company reviews and trip duration through 12Go Asia. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld Any free moment I'm dying to talk to one of my friends to find out if they heard what happened. I am 100% sure about it. He arrived at the beach five minutes later and swiftly cordoned off the area. Two Burmese bar workers were found guilty of their murders the following year and sentenced to death. I'm so desensitised, as gruesome as this one was, to seeing dead bodies at this point that I just get back on my bike and go to work. The major problems started when Meth became heavily used. 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. Koh Tao, Thailand | Photo by Valeriy Ryasnyanskiy on Unsplash 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. On New Years Day in 2014, he was found floating in a bay beneath a 15m cliff. It just doesn't go away.". In March 2015, she vanished from her hostel, with her mobile phone, passport and camera left behind. He was unaware he was arguing with members of the mafia who are all on Meth and got violent with them. These and more tips for a Thai domestic flight search in my latest Thailand travel blog, click on the link! A short time later, Ratish returned to the resort to find the bodies of his parents floating in the water. The owner of BAR stepped in, fucked up on Meth. But Koh Taos reputation for crime has already earned it global notoriety, with the couples death the latest on a long death toll. If you buy 2 beers with the equivalent of $10, you aren't getting your $6-7 back. The photo-shopped picture below is not reflective of anything in the story - rather a hark back to the times . That sounds like an obvious thing, but on islands where the atmosphere is so extremely chilled it is a very tempting thing to do. Apparently, she's also known as "Verna White". Thai beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's sister Laura dies in hospital 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. Creepy. Asking yourself the question is it safe to travel to Thailand, starts with yourself. The high-profile deaths of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014 resulted in the arrest of two Burmese bar workers who were found guilty of their murders and sentenced to death. I lately traveled to Bangkok and saw marijuana stores everywhere. The island became world news when two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge were brutally murdered on the island in 2014. The first is they had an intimate moment in public. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. That said, it was my second time I lived in Koh Tao and it was the second time there had been a fatal incident. Scuba diving is the main tourist drag and when the scuba lessons are over the partying starts. The second theory is they were giving abuse to the ladyboys in BAR. No toxicology report was conducted. Graphic images showing the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on a beach in Koh Tao have been circulating online. 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.