GUILTY Thailand - David Miller, 24, & Hannah Witheridge, 23, Koh Tao, 15 Sep 2014

[ellie b]

Koh Tao ‘murderers’ were tortured, says Burmese embassy lawyer

http://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murd...ys-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

 

[hunch77]

Well, snap Ellie b!

Hmm.Official thai police are saying the Burmese embassy agrees they have conducted the case properly.
Meanwhile, published today on http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/burmese-suspects-koh-tao-murders-tortured-interrogation-lawyer.html
"Aung Myo Thant, a Burmese lawyer who is part of a legal team sent by the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok to represent the accused, told The Irrawaddy that Win Zaw Htun was assaulted and threatened after refusing to confess to the murders during a police interrogation.

“He didn’t confess when he was in the investigation center,” Aung Myo Thant said. “A police officer hit the side of his face and the interpreter also hit him four times. Then police threatened to electrocute them [the suspects] and said that no worse thing would happen to them if they confessed. So, they finally confessed as they saw no hope.”

The lawyer said Win Zaw Htun had asked him to “please protect us in accordance with the law.” Aung Myo Thant said the migrants signed a power of attorney document over to the embassy’s legal team, allowing it to represent the accused men in court.

Thai authorities denied a request by the Burmese legal team to meet with another Burmese migrant Maung Maung, who is being held by Thai police as a witness.

“Police told us Maung Maung is not a criminal. They are keeping him to be a witness and provide testimony to the prosecutor. So, they can’t let us meet him. They told us they are keeping him at a hotel,” said Aung Myo Thant. There were unconfirmed reports stating that Maung Maung, who is a friend of the two suspects, was also badly beaten by Thai police."

And this lovely behaviour thrown in for good measure:
"the mother of three Burmese migrant workers who alleged that Thai police poured hot water over them during questioning said she would not let her children speak to the media out of fear for their safety. She said that after the allegation surfaced in the media, Thai police came to warn her children that they would be in trouble if they spoke to the media again."

Disgusting.

 

[dotr]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-police-deny-cover-up-of-Britons-murders.html


“The defendants kept repeating that they were very drunk that night. Based on what we have been told, it seems to us like this case is a set-up and not based on hard facts,” Aung Myo Thant said.

Police say tests on two DNA samples taken from the body of Ms Witheridge prove the two men, who are both 21, killed the two Britons.

But Khao Sod, the Bangkok-based newspaper, claimed it was unusual that the results of DNA tests supposedly proving the suspects’ guilt had been announced just 24 hours after their arrests when such tests typically took at least 48 hours to process.

“We believe it is necessary for an independent body to investigate the forensic evidence that has allegedly implicated the two men,” the newspaper argued. That investigation should focus on whether DNA evidence had been “tampered with” and should be carried out by a “foreign authority”.

“If these conditions are not met, we fear that Thai police will add to their legacy of falsely accusing innocent people,” the newspaper added.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of concerns expressed in relation to the latest developments and expect the Thai authorities to address these thoroughly and transparently."

 

[dotr]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/new...h-tao-investigation-as-suspects-claim-torture

"The circumstances surrounding the arrest of the migrants, forced DNA testing and the suspects' lack of access to lawyers before being charged were dubious, she said. It all leads the impression that the suspects might not be aware of their rights and justice was not served, she added.

Gen Somyot acknowledged that the investigation did not move as quickly as people had hoped, but blamed delays on social media, saying officers were forced to respond to demands to investigate Koh Tao's influential "mafia" figures. Valuable time, he said, was wasted on responding to "misunderstandings" on social media that, if ignored, would have made police look guilty of a cover-up".

 

[hunch77]

Finally!!!
Uk newspaper the telegraph gets this news out there, focussing on the allegations of torture by police, the huge support for the petition and highlighting that contrary to thai police statements, the uk ambassador has not put his seal of approval on the investigation.
I hope many more follow Tom Phillip's lead:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-police-deny-cover-up-of-Britons-murders.html

 

[hunch77]

Latest reporting saying the Burmese have recanted their confessions:

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/10/...ssions-tell-embassy-lawyer-they-were-tortured

Could be a misinterpretation of articles already posted above I s'pose....guess we will wait and see....

 

[dotr]

Meanwhile, in the other case I posted about recently, the victim is soon to be charged!
Some elements of the story mirror those in the H and D case, imo.


"On the account of Jack's brother Jesse Hansen-Bartel, the night his sibling was beaten Jack headed out to a club called Green Mango with a girl he had met earlier in the day.

Jesse, 24, and some of their friends were also at the establishment.

When Jack arrived at the club, he was approached by two men who claimed the girl was with them.

Jesse told Daily Mail Australia CCTV footage from the evening shows his brother walking away without any trouble.

Later in the evening Jack was blindsided by two attackers and the bashing left him missing three teeth from his disfigured jaw, with blood spilling from his mouth and face.

Ms Hansen said there has been suspicious and questionable circumstances surrounding her son's case.

Jack's mother said she witnessed the public prosecutor in a meeting with the families of the two accused, which an army official told her was a 'highly irregular' occurrence."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...lacked-Koh-Samui-nightclub.html#ixzz3FTjZkMiv
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[hunch77]

More UK press just published:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/07/suspects-britons-murder-thailand-police-brutality

 

[nao]

no matter who is charged now or later, i will always wonder if they got it right

 

[jellybeanz]

Thai police conclude 'suicide' after Russian tourist is found dead in his hotel room with 7 stab wounds to the chest and deep gashes on both arms.

It wouldnt be defensive wounds on the arms though. Nope. No Sirrreeee.

The more I read about these police, the more I think they make the keystone cops look like the FBI.

http://www.samuitimes.com/russian-tourist-found-dead-in-phuket-hotel-with-7-stab-wounds-police-conclude-it-was-suicide/

 

[jellybeanz]

I'd be majorly cheesed off if I was phantom quoted as the UK Ambassador to Thailand (Mark Kent) has been.

Mark Kent @KentBKK · Oct 6
Much speculation about UK views on Koh Tao investigation.UK has good relationship w Thai Police, but I have not commented on investigation

Ian ‏@iamKohChang Oct 6
@KentBKK So you didn't praise police in solving the case & say they showed "exemplary professionalism" as reported http://t.co/Mhd9qZdWIV

Mark Kent @KentBKK · Oct 6
@iamKohChang No

Thai government, media and police being shown up on the world stage.

 

[ChuckieD]

Thai police conclude 'suicide' after Russian tourist is found dead in his hotel room with 7 stab wounds to the chest and deep gashes on both arms.

It wouldnt be defensive wounds on the arms though. Nope. No Sirrreeee.

The more I read about these police, the more I think they make the keystone cops look like the FBI.

http://www.samuitimes.com/russian-tourist-found-dead-in-phuket-hotel-with-7-stab-wounds-police-conclude-it-was-suicide/

<modsnip> This is just unbelievable now.

 

[dotr]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...legations-of-torture-of-suspects-9780876.html

"Richard Bennett, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Programme Director, said: “The Thai authorities must initiate an independent, effective and transparent investigation into mounting allegations of torture and other ill-treatment by police.

“The pressure to be seen to be solving an appalling crime that has garnered considerable attention should not result in the violation of rights, including to a fair trial.”

 

[dotr]

"Thailand beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's family beg for removal of graphic crime scene images circulating online"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-...ders-hannah-witheridges-4402767#ixzz3FZTIM0ct
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook


""Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy," the statement added.

"Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask that Hannah be allowed a well-deserved day of privacy on Friday whilst we join her many friends in a celebration of her life.

"Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet".

 

[jellybeanz]

Andy Hall is the Migrants rights activist, who is facing jail time himself for sticking up for migrants in a previous case against the company 'Natural Fruit'.
An amazing person.

Andy Hall @Atomicalandy · 3h 3 hours ago
&#3626;&#3635;&#3609;&#3623;&#3609;&#3652;&#3617;&#3656;&#3649;&#3609;&#3656;&#3609;! &#3629;&#3633;&#3618;&#3585;&#3634;&#3619;&#3605;&#3637;&#3585;&#3621;&#3633;&#3610;&#3588;&#3604;&#3637;&#3590;&#3656;&#3634;&#3613;&#3619;&#3633;&#3656;&#3591;&#3648;&#3585;&#3634;&#3632;&#3648;&#3605;&#3656;&#3634; (prosecutor send Ko Tao case file back police to amend) http://t.co/gPQ96Dm2VH

He also met up with Mark Kent, along with other delegates to discuss the case earlier today.

 

[dotr]

Confessions retracted..

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/thailand-backpacker-murders-suspects-confession-retract

"Further doubts have emerged about the police investigation into the murder of two British backpackers in Thailand, after a Burmese official said the two migrant workers arrested for the crime had now retracted the confessions that were “beaten out of them”.

Amid a confusing picture fresh doubts have also been raised about forensic evidence supporting the case.

Thailand’s most prominent forensic investigator has questioned why an expert in the area was not used to collect samples following the discovery on 15 September of the murdered Britons, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, on Koh Tao island."

 

[margarita25]

Confessions retracted..

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/thailand-backpacker-murders-suspects-confession-retract

"Further doubts have emerged about the police investigation into the murder of two British backpackers in Thailand, after a Burmese official said the two migrant workers arrested for the crime had now retracted the confessions that were “beaten out of them”.

Amid a confusing picture fresh doubts have also been raised about forensic evidence supporting the case.

Thailand’s most prominent forensic investigator has questioned why an expert in the area was not used to collect samples following the discovery on 15 September of the murdered Britons, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, on Koh Tao island."

From the above link:

"Thailand’s most prominent forensic investigator has questioned why an expert in the area was not used to collect samples following the discovery on 15 September of the murdered Britons, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, on Koh Tao island."

***************************************************************

"Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into allegations that the suspects were mistreated, and for the suspects to get a fair trial.

Richard Bennett, head of Amnesty’s Asia-Pacific region, said: “The pressure to be seen to be solving an appalling crime that has garnered considerable attention should not result in the violation of rights, including a fair trial.”

According to The Nation, in the aftermath of the murders there was a significant drop in tourist arrivals to the island. However numbers were now picking up again, it said."

 

[jellybeanz]

I wish they would STFU about tourism at the end of every article!

 

[Theforeigner]

Hannah and David not the first murder of tourists on Koh Tao this year !!!



http://1clicknews.com/thailand-beac...nd-his-killing-covered-up-to-protect-tourism/


Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered – and his killing covered up to protect tourism

October 9, 2014

Quote:


"The parents of a British holidaymaker who died in suspicious circumstances in Thailand are convinced he was murdered – and the killing covered up to protect tourism.

Nick Pearson, 25, was on a family vacation to the island of Koh Tao when he was found dead on New Year’s Day.

His body was discovered in the sea close to the beach where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered a month ago.

Police there say Nick drowned after a 50ft fall.

But his parents are battling to disprove the official version of events.

They think he may have been followed back to his holiday bungalow and killed.

Despite being warned to keep quiet by people on the island, the family have refused to be silenced.


Much more info about this other probable murder in the link...

 

[jellybeanz]

They also know the score with David and Hannah's case. I would like to see them getting in touch with David and Hannah's family so they can all fight for true justice together.

RIP Nick, Hannah and David.