Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving an activity the area is famed for among backpackers. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. A young backpacker has become the latest tourist found dead on Thailand's notorious 'death island', 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. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. 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Once youve been living there for a while, youll 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. Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. On Thursday, the New York District Attorney released crime scene photos showing blood spatter and the knife allegedly used by nanny Yoselyn Ortega to kill two young children in her care. Thailands 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. British Bricklayer Luke Miller, 26, was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on January 6, 2016. The family claimed the circumstances surrounding his death and the local police's refusal to co-operate with them have led them to believe the death is "suspicious". Burmese migrant workers made up an additional 5,000, around 2,000 of these being illegal immigrants who bribe local police by paying 500 baht each month. Koh Tao has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. Elise had been traveling around Asia for two years, and before her death had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat on Koh Phangan. Dubbed 'Death Island', the illusion of a safe haven has since shattered following the brutal deaths of a number of tourists. I should add that I was not representing the accused men so I am not presenting arguments on their behalf in any lawyer/client relationship. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. We are here for David because of his tragic death. Luke Miller 2016; 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.". The robbery took place on Koh Tao island's Sairee beach at the same spot where islanders found the disfigured bodies of David Miller, a 24-year-old from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, a. [1] After initially failing to find a match to one of the migrant workers, the police focused their attention on Western tourists related to the victims. But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. A Thai police officer who was called to the scene of the killing of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in September 2014 testified on Wednesday, the first of dozens of witnesses who . [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. Nov. 3, 2018. Guardian. The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing. The publicity about their allegedly botched investigation began in 2014 with the brutal murder of two British tourists, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge . He was travelling Southeast Asia with a friend after completing a six-week work placement in Australia with a mining company,[6][8][9] and arrived in Thailand in August. [31] Media reports speculated that was because the defence was wary of calling on foreign experts fearing it could appear as undermining the Thai justice system, and could bias the judges against their case. [55], The defence claimed that the investigation was flawed due to mishandling of forensic evidence, lack of legal representation during interrogations, use of threats and intimidation to secure a confession, and intimidation of witnesses. [76], The International Commission of Jurists said "the defense must be afforded adequate time and facilities to explore whether the alleged destruction of evidence in this case was appropriate and unavoidable, and to test the prosecution case overall." The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. Bernds family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said that the authorities told them he had died of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake. "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. But it was in this idyllic setting that their horribly bludgeoned bodies were discovered, their blood seeping into the sand and staining the water. Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March and has still not been found. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. Only if they are not beautiful." [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. 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. Pool photo, 0130 exhibit 29 [1][11][18] A bloody hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, and a wooden club were found near the bodies,[19][4][14] along with three cigarette butts and a used condom. It covers an area of about 21 km2. 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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. Fototeka is a large photo digitation service that works in conjunction with the National Film Archive to enhance historically relevant vintage photographs. 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. Hannah was raped before she was killed. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial. Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. However, no toxicology report was conducted. But her parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. [44] In December 2014, the suspects were each indicted on five charges: premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offence, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission. 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". Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. It is always challenging to bring ACCURATE & RELIABLE information about violent crime on Koh Tao because too many people are frightened to speak out publicly and still others try to SHOOT THE MESSENGERS . It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. I Shelley Bot 2017; 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. 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.. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. The hoe was then used to knock Witheridge unconscious, after which the defendants used force to hold her down and took turns raping her, before killing her with the hoe. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. For a second day in a row Taiwan has reported a large-scale air force incursion, escalating tensions in the region. The family has contested the police version of events. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. But no suicide note or message were recovered and Michele is desperate for information surrounding the mysterious death. Thai police have said they will issue a summons for the British teenager raped on Koh Tao after her mother said she fled the island without reporting the crime because she feared for her life. [1] Receiving half a million visitors each year,[1] Koh Tao is especially popular with backpackers and known for its marine life and scuba diving. A former Australian soldier, Justin Christopher House, died in Bangkok, where he was living, on February 2. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. The mother told Der Farang magazine that she had been promised an autopsy report - but has still not been delivered. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. The country's prime minister, who had been phoning the national police chief daily for updates on the investigation, said "this should not have happened at all, as it will affect Thailand in the eyes of the international community". Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; But behind paradise lies a grubby underbelly where, according to one report, there are "enough suspicious disappearances to warrant the island its own CSI franchise". 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. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. Bitter divisions over Ukraine dominate G20 talks, Greek trains halted as anger over crash grows, Messages reveal battle over UK Covid policy, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. 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. [66], On 24 December 2015, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were found guilty of murdering Witheridge and Miller by the three judges, and were sentenced to death. I am the former owner and editor of the Samui Times, a news publication on Koh Samui, and covered the stories of the so-called "backpacker murders" and other suspicious . They also found a suicide note at the scene. On tiny Koh Tao, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. 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). 2040 / 2557", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koh_Tao_murders&oldid=1135707447, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 10:00. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. 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