In August 2020 the death sentence was commuted to life in prison under royal pardon by the decree. Rumours go that a couple very influential families, kind of like Koh Tao Mafia style, rule the island. KOH TAO MURDERS - DID SCOTLAND YARD AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE SCREW UP? 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. on Koh Tao in September 2014. Of course tourists get drunk and alcohol makes you do crazy things. Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, from Russia. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel and. 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. Use common sense and stay out of trouble in the first place! Members of the mafia admitted to me, my gf and probably numerous others the owner of BAR, also a mafia member, killed them. Think twice before getting yourself into trouble! 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. 2 minutes read. They might not have even realised what they did was offensive. A British man was found dead on Thailand 's notorious Koh Tao - also known as Death Island - on Wednesday. After living through it for months, I think this conclusion, which was agreed on by many on the island at the time, is the closest to the truth that will ever appear. This time Ialso got a change to visit Koh Chang and the Golden Triangle up North. The families of the deceased both present for the first time at the hearing have asked for privacy. It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks! 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. I asked what had happened, he wasn't 100% sure but the bar owner had killed them. A UK Foreign Office spokeswomen refused to comment on that issue but said consular officers provided support and assistance to the families of Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and Miller, 24, from Jersey. Let me tell you where you can book one with insurance, so you wont get scammed. The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. 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. 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. 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. In the back of my mind I had a feeling there might be something wrong. Note: in all my continuous travels around the world since December 2012, I have never ran into a bad situation. They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. Defense lawyers for the two men later alleged that police had rushed the investigation to . Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerarythen have a read in the link. Buying a Sim Card for Dominican Republic in 2023, Buying a Sim Card at Bogota Airport in 2023, Buying a Sim Card at Lisbon Airport in 2023, Four Seasons Amman | Luxury Experience in an Amazing City, Affordable Villa Mira Apartment near Rainbow Street Amman, best scuba diving destinations in the world, search engine for Thailand transportation, Buying a Thailand Sim Card at Bangkok Airport in 2023, 25 Best Street Food Dishes in Thailand (+printable checklist), 68 Interesting & Funny Thailand and Bangkok Facts. People from India and China died, mostly drowning, every day and no one gave a shit. I know these people. David handed over the equivalent of $25-30 for drinks worth no more than $5. 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. 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 men, both the smallest in height in the room, wore matching beige outfits. But trust me if you travel to Koh Tao you dont get involved with daily politics on the island! Saying not much better than slaves wouldn't be an exaggeration. A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took . Elise Dallemagne, 30, of Belgium. . 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. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. 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. This idyllic island in Thailand has long been popular with tourists for its pristine beaches, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and turquoise waters. L&M brand which were found near the crime scene matched samples . A corrupt police force was bribed by BARs owner/mafia to lay the blame on anyone else. 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. 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! And insecure residency tends to breed compliance. The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. Sadly another case of tourists deaths on Koh Tao. Click here for our ongoing coverage of the killings. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. He arrived at the beach five minutes later and swiftly cordoned off the area. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results By Coconuts Bangkok Oct 31, 2014 | 5:40pm Bangkok time Preliminary results today found no link between Warot Tuwichian and DNA police say was collected from the scene of two murders on Koh Tao last month. RME8CHF9 - Mae Sot, Thailand. Especially at night just always stay around other people. Now Im really suspicious, her father Boyce Annesley previously told news.com.au. In recent years, however, the unexplained deaths and disappearances of many of those tourists have earned it a reputation as a death trap. It mostly always comes down to your own behaviour and therefore I wrote a Thailand travel guide, with everything you need to know. In January 2018 a British traveler was found death in a hotel pool along Sairee Beach. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. Westerners were ignored as long as you didn't cause any problems. When smoking marijuana in Koh Tao be very careful! My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. 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. Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. 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. The story is, they had met at the previous bar and wanted 1 more drink before heading back to a hotel. 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. These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo also known as Win Zaw Htun are 22-year-old bar and restaurant migrant workers from Burma. Burmese are treated like shit and no one will miss them, easy target so they chose two random guys. Any free moment I'm dying to talk to one of my friends to find out if they heard what happened. The photographer focused on a few key details, like a tilted painting on the wall, disheveled . They were the boat boys, cleaners, shelf stackers, dish washers etc and were treated horrendously by the Thai population. The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, have had their "hearts broken" by a second death. 09/23/14 AT 10:48 AM BST. 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. Alex was charged with Maggie and Paul's murders days after he was formally disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Elise's heartbroken mother, Michele van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events. Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine. 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. With such incredible sunsets on the main party beach, the party starts early. "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". solve a crime that made global headlines . We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. But also to tell you that NO Koh Tao is not a murder island. Two Burmese bar workers were found guilty of their murders the following year and sentenced to death. Dont forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. 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. He called for help from staff but his parents were both dead when their bodies were pulled from the water. According to the Daily Mail, the District Attorney publicized the gruesome photos a week after they were presented to a jury. I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. Aug 10, 2017. They accuse Thai police of improperly collecting evidence at the crime scene, intimidation and abuse of witnesses and suspects which the police deny and not sharing key forensic evidence with the defence, a move they say seriously impedes a fair trial. It will always be you against the island. Ms Witheridge had been raped. But human rights groups have called the mens convictions profoundly disturbing amid allegations of mishandled forensics and claims by the men Thai police had tortured them into confessing. 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. My gf had been on the island 18 months longer than me and is one of those people who just knows everyone. Neill Fronde Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Thai police said a post-mortem examination showed he drowned. Any reasons to be worried? 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. There were at that time a lot of rumors going around but no one really knows what happened. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV. I regret that the pro bono defense team does not have the $5,500 budget necessary to pay for a proper translation into English. 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. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. 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.". Add in everyone at BAR being on Meth and they took their anger out on them. The first is they had an intimate moment in public. (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. He said autopsies to determine the cause of the deaths were expected in about two weeks. They were escorted into the court by police, shackled hands to feet by chains. 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. Unfortunately a lot of motorbike accidents happen on the island and it sincerely is a Koh Tao safety issue. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Investigators will consider whether the depth of the pool which was around 3m on one end may have led to the couples drowning. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Something went wrong, please try again later. If you caused no trouble, you would have no problems and they didn't seem to have any issues with each other. Theres no proof because you cant get proof because the authorities are corrupt.. The global pandemic stopped me from traveling to Thailand for a while but I was back recently and added some cool activities to my already long list of the best things to do in Koh Tao. As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. 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. 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. Flights are faster, but more expensive, trains more comfortable than busses, but overnight, etc, etc. On New Years Day in 2014, he was found floating in a bay beneath a 15m cliff. Different place, different rules. I think one, or both of them said or did something discriminatory to a ladyboy. The body of 48 year old diving instructor Neil Giblin, from Birmingham, UK, was found dead in his rented bungalow on the island after he failed to turn up to a diving . A big discussion started when I posted a picture on my Facebook Page with the caption that Koh Tao was a peaceful paradise. But Elise had disappeared. 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. 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. Or want to know the best hidden bays or a secret sunrise spot? From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! You knew who you could trust, you knew who liked to stir up drama etc. I genuinely think she is telling the truth. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 but failed to do so. 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. To get around Koh Tao at night you should have your own motorbike or take an expensive taxi ride. Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. Koh Tao murders has been listed as one of the Social sciences and society good articles under the good article criteria. It was something shocking to see. But they later retracted their confessions, saying they had been tortured and threatened with death by their interrogators. Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary With exclusive images, never-before-seen evidence and interviews with key figures on the island, Murder in Paradise sheds new light on a global news story, putting Thailand under the spotlight and asking whether this is still the travel destination from heaven, or hell? 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. Five more three-day sessions will be staggered over the next few weeks, ending on 25 September, after which the judges will rule on the verdict. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Click on the picture to read all about it. There will be no jury. Are you looking to stay in remote bays then keep in mind thaT after sunset there is nothing to do. 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. 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. The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Koh Tao every year never have any issues or whatsoever. They'd start fining people or confiscating bikes in this week to get some extra cash for the holidays. This time was different. The final theory, is all down to money. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. House is a generous term, it was a wooden shack. Will Koh Tao ever be able to get rid of that negative image? I will never forget the day I turned 30 and I cheered with friends until early morning 02.00 am on Sairee Beach. 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. Investigators were checking CCTV from local bars and restaurants and it was reported people were prevented from leaving the island.

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