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. 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. How they decided it was them I'm not sure because there is no evidence it was them. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. 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. What really happened there? On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. Two migrant workers accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the Thai tourist . She had also heard it was the owner of BAR who had killed them, from a separate source to mine. Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving an activity the area is famed for among backpackers. Koh Tao Mafia truth or myth as a tourist you are not willing to get in touch with any of these things, right? Dont waste time, live now! So how safe is Koh Taoi? Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. However, according to Rhys Bonney, an immigration adviser to expats in Thailand, the legality of the businesses are an extremely grey area. To get around Koh Tao at night you should have your own motorbike or take an expensive taxi ride. UPDATE: 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. Use common sense and stay out of trouble in the first place! Photo from Sept 15 showing a police officer questioning Christopher Alan Ware, who has re-emerged as a leading suspect in the murder of a young British man and woman on Koh Tao on Monday in. I have traveled around the islands extensively and would love to help you plan your trip to Thailand. On the 29th of August 2019 the Thai supreme court upheld the death sentence for the two Burmese men who allegedly are guilty for the Koh Tao Murders which happened on my birthday September 15th in 2014. 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. Simple things your parents would tell you too: dont walk along the beach on your own at night. 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. They were at the same party together. I'm also not a great writer. I had no issues with them, they had none with me, but a few of the individuals were friendly enough. What's so unbelievable about all of this is that Archie actually convinced a group of friends that killing 7 people would bring baby Craig back from the dead! The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. A common Koh Tao scam occurs with renting motorbikes. Yes, I have been there and yes I have smoked weed myself multiple times when traveling to Koh Tao. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were arrested over the crime. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. 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. Theres no proof because you cant get proof because the authorities are corrupt.. Dont forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. Mafia ran the place, Meth was becoming a plague amongst them. One of the first famous crime scene photos was taken on May 5, 1903, in the home of a Parisian woman named Madame Debeinche who had been murdered. If you would like to be prepared for your trip to Thailand then have a look at my guide telling you everything you need to know when you travel to Thailand: visas, safety issues, scams, the culture, things to do and things NOT to do, the best national parks, about the street food, the travel adapter you need, the vaccinations and many more things. This appears to be a situation where the accused had been tortured to confess to the crimes, said lead defence lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat said in a statement before the trial started. Laura Daniels, 30, has died five years after sister Hannah, 23, was. She wasn't really friends with them, they were only together due to being friends with someone else who was having a house party. She was found dead in her bungalow with a mix of medication and alcohol in her system in 2015 - leading the coroner to ascertain she died of an accidental overdose. Hannah was missing clothes on her lower body and her head/face had been completely smashed in by a blunt object. Like during all your travels around the world the golden rule is: use common sense and when you feel something is not right then walk away from the situation! More info here: Mother vs. vicious rapist. Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerarythen have a read in the link. Dubbed 'Death Island', the illusion of a safe haven has since shattered following the brutal deaths of a number of tourists. Nick Pearson, 25, from the UK. The major problems started when Meth became heavily used. Fears over the safety of idyllic Koh Tao were heightened after the killings of Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014. Was everyone on Meth in a mafia? Resting in the Gulf of Thailand, a two-hour ferry ride north of Koh Samui, Koh Tao is best known for its incredible marine life, which over the years has attracted a small but buoyant expat. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, have had their "hearts broken" by a second death. The story is, they had met at the previous bar and wanted 1 more drink before heading back to a hotel. Weve all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo . No toxicology report was conducted. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV. Yes, that is more than 10 years of moving around the globe, not staying in one place longer than 2-3 weeks mostly! Just simply never accept drinks from strangers and keep your own drink closely. Two Burmese men charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller went on trial on Wednesday. Aug 10, 2017. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. The couple were Thai-Indian nationals Rakeshwar Sachathamakul, 59, and his wife Anshoo, 55. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. 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. He also had to track down a man seen on surveillance footage leaving his daughter's flat hours before she was discovered. . So let's look at the facts which I believe to be true. 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. Rumours go that a couple very influential families, kind of like Koh Tao Mafia style, rule the island. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. In the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. For the around 10k people on the island a day, there were 3 police officers who only appeared around holidays. Let me tell you where you can book one with insurance, so you wont get scammed. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. I know these people. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. Something went wrong, please try again later. Photographs appear to show the mobile phone of Hannah Witheridge submitted to police by her friends, despite police claims it was found in one of their suspect's possession. 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. I understand that because I am a sporty and fit 1.86 meter (6'1) tall Dutch guy, I might not be the best benchmark for writing an article about how safe it is to travel to Koh Tao. Check your Thailand routes below and 12Go Asia tells you all the options (bus, boat, train, flights) including time tables and direct booking options. 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. The second theory is they were giving abuse to the ladyboys in BAR. I drove to work and on the way saw a small crowd of people gathered to the side of BAR, on the beach. It mostly always comes down to your own behaviour and therefore I wrote a Thailand travel guide, with everything you need to know. I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, from Russia. For a few weeks/months leading up to the murders, violence was getting worse, but it never happened in Westerner hangouts. The population of Koh Tao was around 1300, which did not include the hundreds of Westerners living on the island or the thousands of Burmese, or the hundreds arriving everyday. All the 'dirty work' was done by the Burmese. But trust me if you travel to Koh Tao you dont get involved with daily politics on the island! The reason people went to that bar is it was still open after everywhere else shut. Although I was living on the island at the times of the murders and even celebrating my birthday on the same beach a couple hours before the Koh Tao Murders happened, I never ran into any issue on the island ever. Due to how tiny the island is, and the population of people who Westerners would interact with, maybe 1000 people, you formed relationships very quickly. The next night, Archie and his buddies went out in search of victim number one. Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! They were escorted into the court by police, shackled hands to feet by chains. 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". The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. 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. Police ruled out foul play but his family believe he was murdered. Now onto the mafia. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. Click on the link to read my article about it and where to go. In September 2014, the couple were found bludgeoned to death close to where they were staying. I dont believe well ever find out what happened to her. In April 2017, she was found hanged in the jungle. They are most likely willing to help out a stranger. The rest were mafia. Other witnesses to appear will be the doctor who determined the cause of death and a woman who first found the bodies. Could this have happened on any other island in Thailand as well? The mother told Der Farang magazine that she had been promised an autopsy report - but has still not been delivered. He arrived at the beach five minutes later and swiftly cordoned off the area. May be the significant drop in tourists because of the Corona pandemic in 2020 and 2021 made these taxi drivers charge more sane prices, but I doubt it. Maybe if it was more common knowledge, the murders wouldn't have happened. CAUTION, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS! A big discussion started when I posted a picture on my Facebook Page with the caption that Koh Tao was a peaceful paradise. She has no reason to lie about it. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. In January 2016, he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach. It reminded me again of the horrible scenes that took place on this pristine island and that will forever be engraved in people's minds. Becoming a digital nomad through this blog was a dream coming true, of course supported by my 280K Instagram account @Traveltomtom, more than500K TikTok and 50K Facebook family. . They walked together into the court on Wednesday shortly after it started, escorted by British consular officials and sat a few metres from the defendants. The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Koh Tao every year never have any issues or whatsoever. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. A couple hours later a British couple got brutally murdered and left behind only two hundred meters away from where I had been drinking beers and having fun with my friends. The rise in tourist deaths in Thailand brought more police to the islands and stories of being caught with marijuana are still pretty common. Thai police claim Elise hung herself - but her devastated mother does not believe them, and thinks somebody else was involved. Maybe it's because we didn't want to ruin the image our home had of a paradise island, or maybe it was an unsaid threat, I don't know. However you are on holiday and partying, things can ugly go wrong, so please be aware that these things can happen and protect yourself from it. The families of the deceased both present for the first time at the hearing have asked for privacy. Thanks a lot! A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. 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. While most of the millions of tourists who flock to the island for its world-class scuba diving opportunities, lavish resorts and unending sunshine have the time of their lives, a disturbingly high number who visited the island never came home. 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. RME8CHF9 - Mae Sot, Thailand. Investigators will consider whether the depth of the pool which was around 3m on one end may have led to the couples drowning. The men, both the smallest in height in the room, wore matching beige outfits. These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. With all due respect but I obviously have no idea how a small blonde girl would feel visiting Koh Tao. The photographer focused on a few key details, like a tilted painting on the wall, disheveled . It was exactly like that for five years. There was also a photo floating around on WhatsApp that spread across the island like wildfire. 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. "They may be feeling guilty for the crime they have done." 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. That said, it was my second time I lived in Koh Tao and it was the second time there had been a fatal incident. After checking into the resort, the couple headed down to the pool for a swim while Ratish went for a walk on the beach. Christina, from Orpington, South East London, died shortly after arriving on Koh Tao. Nicola Gissing, who was also on holiday with Luke when he died, has claimed her friends death was no accident. The pool was also supposed to be empty, because it was closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions.. 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". In recent years, however, the unexplained deaths and disappearances of many of those tourists have earned it a reputation as a death trap. Thai police said a post-mortem examination showed he drowned. Buying your tickets for boats, trains, flights and busses is the safest and most reliable online. He said at the time: "We don't know how or why she died. The judge said on Wednesday the matter would be dealt with on Thursday when the police officer who holds the samples will be present in the court. There were also other people at the party but I didn't know them well enough to comment on them. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . 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. Disturbingly, police on the island have said CCTV cameras at luxury Jamahkiri Resort and Spa werent working on the day the couple died, fuelling mystery around what happened to the wealthy pair. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. His family has accused police of a cover-up. 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. 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. I don't remember exactly the time as it varied constantly between 5 and 9am, but I'm fairly sure it was closer to 5am. It was revealed yesterday that on April 28 Elise became the latest tourist found dead on the island of Koh Tao. If this Koh Tao blog about safety issues was helpful for your trip please pin it on Pinterest, share it in a Facebook Group or tweet it on Twitter. The circumstances around his death are a mystery. 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. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the bar and can find no reference to it on the Internet. I'm also fairly sure that a majority had mafia ties, though this is the one thing me and my friends never spoke about so is pure speculation on my part but makes sense in the context of the murders. There was a bar you avoided due to potential violence occurring. Some Koh Tao travel blogs tell you that prices depend on your haggling skills. Yes of course! Interested to join me on one of my trips? As the love for Koh Tao and Thailand is real, you might think I am biased writing this blog. I on Koh Tao in September 2014. A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took . The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. The Thai population were the business owners. If you caused no trouble, you would have no problems and they didn't seem to have any issues with each other. My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. Alex was charged with Maggie and Paul's murders days after he was formally disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Add in everyone at BAR being on Meth and they took their anger out on them. 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. They were also asked to recreate the murders, but according to sources on Koh Tao, were unable to do so. She spoke to police and wasn't given the time of day. 'A perfect job' Authorities remain steadfast in their conviction they've found those responsible. 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. Let me help you as in my article Travel to Thailand or Philippines I compare my two favorites island destinations! Don't get dodgy boat tickets from street vendors. The island became world news when two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge were brutally murdered on the island in 2014. It's pretty common knowledge that torture doesn't get you the truth, it gets you what you want to hear. Between 1-5 days later, I can't remember exactly, Thai police show up in large numbers and stop anyone from entering or leaving the island. The case has shocked Britain. Make sure you have a seat by buying your ticket online and safe a lot of hassle. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. Tips for Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train | Worth it? This is to prevent the public from speculating and becoming scared of the area for its crime incidents.. He was unaware he was arguing with members of the mafia who are all on Meth and got violent with them. Questions surround her death. I was never explicitly told to hold back this information but that was the vibe. It just doesn't go away.". One of the many tourist deaths in Thailand per year. Something went wrong, please try again later. It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks! Like I touched upon, ladyboys were not looked down upon and it was disrespectful to do so. But keep in mind that Koh Tao is NOT Bangkok. I have never seen anyone running around with a gun on the island or heard stories that they knock on your door for a share of your business. In my time living on Koh Tao there were a lot of stories about spiking drinks. Click on the picture to read all about it. When smoking marijuana in Koh Tao be very careful! There were at that time a lot of rumors going around but no one really knows what happened. This news blows up in the UK. Questioned by the prosecution, he said he received a call at 6:30am on September 15, 2014 by a fellow officer. 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. Her family are suspicious. Stay away from drugs! Yes go partying, get drunk, play beer-pong, drink buckets, get shit-faced but always make sure you are able to get home properly. Two Burmese bar workers were found guilty of their murders the following year and sentenced to death. They lock them up in a BKK prison and torture them for a confession. 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". The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Pool photo, 0130 exhibit 29 Ive 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. Another thing that should actually be clear is to never walk away from a party alone. With crystal clear water and stunning greenery, the Thai island of Koh Tao is seen as a backpacker haven. The 29-year-old Frenchman was found on January 1, 2015, hanging from his balcony ceiling. After 2 big trips around the world in my early travel days, I am now already continuously traveling the world for more than 3,700 days! A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . Now Im really suspicious, her father Boyce Annesley previously told news.com.au. I am Tom an avid adventure traveler from The Netherlands. The other question is why were they killed. Why are government officials going along with this with no/circumstantial evidence at best? After weeks of investigations, Thai Police have arrested three Burmese man in relation to the murder of two British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the holiday island of Koh Tao.The Burmese migrant worker community is on high . 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The murders on the popular dive island of Koh Tao drew intense media attention from across the world. Blood on the floor of the feedroom where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. A short time later, Ratish returned to the resort to find the bodies of his parents floating in the water. It was obvious to us what was happening, they'd been bribed by the mafia. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel and. Flights are faster, but more expensive, trains more comfortable than busses, but overnight, etc, etc. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. My passion to inspire other people to travel the world turned into a lifestyle. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope The teen's body was found seven days after the boating accident. More photos here: Sue White after the attack. In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. I believe a decent chunk of ladyboys had mafia ties. 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. Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach. Don't let your Thailand holiday be ruined by your own stupid mistakes! May you have any additional questions please leave me a comment below and I am happy to help you out with everything you want to know about Koh Tao island. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. Murder On Koh Tao: The Untold Story - Crime Documentary | Real Life Stories Documentaries Reality TV - Real Life Stories Documentaries 677 subscribers Subscribe 79 views 9 months ago Show. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. This time Ialso got a change to visit Koh Chang and the Golden Triangle up North. Click here for our ongoing coverage of the killings. I have no idea but it's safe to say it was the vast majority. I genuinely think she is telling the truth. There are serious doubts about the evidence linking Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, with the brutal slaying of David Miller, 24, and rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the Thai Gulf . 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. That DNA should by all rights be either that of the real murderers or someone who has messed up the crime scene, which, Dr. Porntip said, was what happened.