Myanmar men jailed for murder of British tourists on Koh Tao taken off death row

[P100]

3 hours ago, Crusader said:

Well, they probably should not have been there in the first place...

Yes probably not. Thai police quickly needed to present itself in a good light and Myanmar workers were just ideal for that. Before they further ruin Thailand's reputation by arresting Thai suspects, better use Myanmar workers with no powerful embassy and no news media coverage ...  wasn`t it even the British embassy, who voiced concerns about arrests and convictions despite lack of reliable evidence of guilt...

[Burma Bill]

Great news indeed and now, with due respect, how about a Royal Pardon for the two young men to allow them to return to their families back in Burma after several years of incarceration.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Crusader said:

Well, they probably should not have been there in the first place...

I bet they wish they weren't.

[Sydebolle]

This case has been dealt according to the same set of rules and regulations as the "Vorayuth Red Bull Saga". Go figure .........

At least there is the first good news in commuting. We shall hear the real story once they are back in Burma so do not expect them to be released anytime soon. Meanwhile some other possibilities might  still roam around free on Death Island .......... The present situation of tourism though prevents more murders - for the time being! 

[transam]

5 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

The Thai culture just doesn’t take accountability seriously....

You missed out 'police'....

[transam]

2 hours ago, herwin1234 said:

+1. Kindly anyone here tell us some non-emotional facts or reasoning based on logic why these two fine gentlemen are "framed".

If they indeed are framed, that is a real tragedy to be solved.

Seems the only reasons why they are innocent, according to ppl here, is bc they are immigrants, in other words, that fits nicely to make another "the Thais are corrupt" made up story.

 

WAKE UP,  THESE TWO PEOPLE MOST LIKELY ARE GUILTY OF MURDERING AND RAPING TWO INNOCENT TOURISTS.

 

Disapointed to see a Royal Pardon! Better pardon and free all the poor Thai suckers who are thrown in jail on petty non violent drug charges. 

 

 

I am disappointed in reading your post..............

[transam]

1 hour ago, Chesney said:

why do farangs think these 2 are innocent?

the evidence against them is so overwhelming(camera,dna,fleeing at the time of the crime,blood victim on them)

police are corrupt in thailand but to manipulate evidence that much is pretty much impossible and for what? reputation?

kinda reminds me of those idiot trump supporters believing in qanon or that the earth is flat......

i feel sorry for the victim's parents that they wont get the death penalty but prison time in thailand is torture.

You obviously never followed the case....????..................

[CorpusChristie]

2 hours ago, herwin1234 said:

+1. Kindly anyone here tell us some non-emotional facts or reasoning based on logic why these two fine gentlemen are "framed".

If they indeed are framed, that is a real tragedy to be solved.

Seems the only reasons why they are innocent, according to ppl here, is bc they are immigrants, in other words, that fits nicely to make another "the Thais are corrupt" made up story.

 

WAKE UP,  THESE TWO PEOPLE MOST LIKELY ARE GUILTY OF MURDERING AND RAPING TWO INNOCENT TOURISTS.

 

Disapointed to see a Royal Pardon! Better pardon and free all the poor Thai suckers who are thrown in jail on petty non violent drug charges. 

 

 

Many of us watched the case developing from beginning to end , and it was a complete farce from day 2 , when the prime suspect was named by the Top policemen and they had clear evidence that it was him and the top Policemen vowed there would be no cover up . 

   He got removed from the case the next day .......................and the prime suspect turned up in Bangkok three days later and then produced doctored CCTV "evidence" to "prove" he had been in BKK all along .

  The farces continued from then on, like the Scotsman who got chased around the island that night , locals trying to hang him, making out it was suicide then placing the blame on him  .

  One big long endless farce 

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, CorpusChristie said:

I think that everyone knew the two kids didnt do it , everyone including the authorities and Judge etc.

Quite expected that the death sentence wouldnt be carried out 

 

I don't think your qualified to speak for "everyone". You also refer to grown men as "kids".

 

What happened in the horrific murders of 2 innocent young people will, as with Kirsty Jones, never be known.

 

Again, were a timeline of police actions produced, the conflicting bu$$ers muddle would likely appear that there was massive interference. Whether these two Burmese men were involved in some way, and to what extent will not be known. Nor who else was involved and what role they played.

 

The quick to disappear oddball Scottish scared "witness"; the headman's son and brother; the absolute confidence of the first senior policeman who thought he'd got the case solved only to be suddenly transferred off and replaced by another who came up with a completely different solution; the very odd CCTV which showed a suspect with an unusual walk; the very odd CCTV which "proved" said suspect was in Bangkok at the time of the murder and appears to have a badly altered date on it; the subsequent press conference by the headman and the then national police chief saying the headman's son was totally innocent and shouldn't be presecuted; Scotland Yards somewhat odd input; the missing DNA evidence; etc etc etc.

 

All which could lead to considerable speculation. But those that know are saying nowt! And like the Blue Diamond theft and associated murders; Kirsty Jones rape and murder; Billy the activist's mysterious disappearance and probably murder; and several more similar cases, they will never be solved publicly.

 

 

[JIMHILL]

6 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

The Thai culture just doesn’t take accountability seriously....

From where I'm standing (metaphor), it clear from your comment, you don't take Thai culture seriously.

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

This is a few years back so maybe my memory isn't perfect, but I remember that village headman's sons were initially accused after being recorded on CCTV. One of them fled to Bangkok and produced a video that he was in Bangkok at the time, despite that video being proven to be a fake (the date stamp on it was very clumsily altered). The police investigator was confident beyond doubt that the 2 sons of Koh Tao headmen did it, but then he was abruptly removed from investigation and another one appointed, who blamed the Burmese. The DNA test made in Singapore lab did not match any of the 2 Burmese suspects but when challenged, the results were "lost". Does this still look like "WAKE UP,  THESE TWO PEOPLE MOST LIKELY ARE GUILTY OF MURDERING AND RAPING TWO INNOCENT TOURISTS." ?

Thank you for these valid comments, which are my thoughts as well. As a retired forensic expert with the UK Police Service, I followed this case with great interest when living in Thailand at the time and what kept transpiring during the investigation was "amazing"! Regarding CCTV, I believe tapes from the area around the murder scene also "disappeared". I will not make further comment but list quotes from TIME July 16 2015 for reference and consideration ( I have deleted names so as not to possibly contravene the Computer Crimes Act even that I no longer live in the country):-

 

 

More recently, a court order to allow ............ to review the DNA evidence was rescinded. “The defense lawyers urgently need both crucial information gained from the re-examination of forensic evidence in this case and also adequate time to consider this information prior to the trial beginning,” said lead defense lawyer .................. in a statement last month.

 

On July 10, the bench again ordered the DNA to be retested, only for the police to reveal that certain key samples — specifically those retrieved from the victims’ bodies — had been used up. The only items still available for retesting were objects found around the crime scene, including the suspected murder weapons, but one witness claimed that these had been washed.

 

According to ............... Southeast Asia legal expert for the International Commission of Jurists, “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.”

 

Theories abound on Koh Tao about who killed .....and ....... Many believe the true culprits are local, and these suspicions were fueled after a Scottish friend of ........ fled the island claiming to have had his life threatened by local thugs.

 

But many have concerns that the scene was contaminated immediately after the discovery of the bodies; myriad officials, journalists and even bewildered tourists were seen traipsing through the area while evidence was still being gathered. Gruesome photos of the bloodied corpses circulated online, either leaked by officials or even taken by passersby. Thailand’s forensics chief, ................ has said that by not using trained specialists, “police contradicted the principles of forensic science.”

Edited August 15, 2020 by Burma Bill
additional information

[CorpusChristie]

13 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I don't think your qualified to speak for "everyone". You also refer to grown men as "kids".

 

What happened in the horrific murders of 2 innocent young people will, as with Kirsty Jones, never be known.

 

Again, were a timeline of police actions produced, the conflicting bu$$ers muddle would likely appear that there was massive interference. Whether these two Burmese men were involved in some way, and to what extent will not be known. Nor who else was involved and what role they played.

 

The quick to disappear oddball Scottish scared "witness"; the headman's son and brother; the absolute confidence of the first senior policeman who thought he'd got the case solved only to be suddenly transferred off and replaced by another who came up with a completely different solution; the very odd CCTV which showed a suspect with an unusual walk; the very odd CCTV which "proved" said suspect was in Bangkok at the time of the murder and appears to have a badly altered date on it; the subsequent press conference by the headman and the then national police chief saying the headman's son was totally innocent and shouldn't be presecuted; Scotland Yards somewhat odd input; the missing DNA evidence; etc etc etc.

 

All which could lead to considerable speculation. But those that know are saying nowt! And like the Blue Diamond theft and associated murders; Kirsty Jones rape and murder; Billy the activist's mysterious disappearance and probably murder; and several more similar cases, they will never be solved publicly.

 

 

The evidence against the two non accused (by law) is over whelming though  .

The distinctive sharp sharks tooth ring he wore matches the puncture marks on the deceased body.

They even reenacted the scene drunkenly in a bar .

Many more examples of evidence who the real perpetrators were 

[sambum]

2 hours ago, Chesney said:

why do farangs think these 2 are innocent?

the evidence against them is so overwhelming(camera,dna,fleeing at the time of the crime,blood victim on them)

police are corrupt in thailand but to manipulate evidence that much is pretty much impossible and for what? reputation?

kinda reminds me of those idiot trump supporters believing in qanon or that the earth is flat......

i feel sorry for the victim's parents that they wont get the death penalty but prison time in thailand is torture.

I think you've got your facts from a different hymn sheet to everybody else - the CCTV evidence points at the headman's son, there was NO matching DNA found on the murder weapon, and they did not flee  the scene - the headman's son fled to Bangkok and tried to fabricate CCTV evidence to prove that he was not on Koh Tao at the time of the murders.

 

Those are just some of the reasons that "farangs" think they are innocent, and the fact that the leading police officer in the case who was convinced it was the headman's son mainly  DUE TO CCTV EVIDENCE was swiftly removed from the case, and replaced by someone who just as swiftly found 2 Burmese who had NOT fled the scene.

 

As a "newbie" I would suggest that you check your facts before posting in future, or your "career" on ThaiVisa could be a short one - there is a "report" button where one can bring the attention of the Mods to posts that have broken the rules/guidelines, and can lead to suspension or banning.

[CorpusChristie]

One other thing I found interesting about this case .

David Miller was murdered on the island in September 2014 .

Luke Miller  died in suspicious circumstances on the island  in January 2016 .

They both share the same surname .

Could some people on the island noticed they both shared the same surname and thought Luke may have been Davids family going to the island to seek revenge ?

[Scot123]

6 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

The Thai culture just doesn’t take accountability seriously....

Try following the story. These poor boys, their only crime was not being Thai or wealthy. Most people know the real killer.

[SunsetT]

5 hours ago, British Bulldog said:

I don't know ... if it were me, I'm not sure that I would be rejoicing over the decision, to spend the rest of my life in a Thai Jail, I think I'd rather die !

My initial feelings too until I read that the sentence could be reduced further for good behaviour.

[The Barmbeker]

3 hours ago, herwin1234 said:

+1. Kindly anyone here tell us some non-emotional facts or reasoning based on logic why these two fine gentlemen are "framed".

If they indeed are framed, that is a real tragedy to be solved.

Seems the only reasons why they are innocent, according to ppl here, is bc they are immigrants, in other words, that fits nicely to make another "the Thais are corrupt" made up story.

 

WAKE UP,  THESE TWO PEOPLE MOST LIKELY ARE GUILTY OF MURDERING AND RAPING TWO INNOCENT TOURISTS.

 

Disapointed to see a Royal Pardon! Better pardon and free all the poor Thai suckers who are thrown in jail on petty non violent drug charges. 

 

 

What a heap of garbage!

Did you actually follow the investigation?

From the connected guy, walking all over the crime scene, to the fumbling with the evidence, that later got lost, to the shady DNA- tests, the confession, the Burmese were beaten into, the faked "evidence"....

Most likely guilty, my fat white behind!

[The Barmbeker]

There was one incident, that got my attention at the time!

I was once a witness to a police re-- enactment of a crime and the bystanding public was up in arms, screaming and shouting at the allledged criminal (it was an alleged rape case) nad some even tried to throw rocks at the gguy!

 

When I saw the reenactment at Koh Tao, I was reminded of that case!

Remember: the guys were given helmets and bulletproof vests...and then the whole reenactment went over in absolute silence!

Noone uttered a word!

No shouts!

No screams!

No rocks!

 

Ad this to the fact, that 2 Burmese had to be shown, what they had to do and where to do it, was just another drop in the bucket!

 

Now: transferring this death- sentence into a life sentence is the lowest hanging fruit I have ever seen!

Many Thais I talked to, were 100% convinced, that the Burmese did not do it!

But there is something else, that I find weird, and it is connected to the ongoing student- protests and what they are alledgedly about...and against!

 

[Road Warrior]

out in a few years released  .ok to kill again ,what about EYE 4 A EYE ??

[Road Warrior]

ow dear guarantees  that tourists  will want to visit thailand !!!!  will they !!!

[nausea]

Nobody was ever gonna execute these two guys based on such a sketchy conviction.

[Patts]

4 hours ago, herwin1234 said:

+1. Kindly anyone here tell us some non-emotional facts or reasoning based on logic why these two fine gentlemen are "framed".

If they indeed are framed, that is a real tragedy to be solved.

Seems the only reasons why they are innocent, according to ppl here, is bc they are immigrants, in other words, that fits nicely to make another "the Thais are corrupt" made up story.

 

WAKE UP,  THESE TWO PEOPLE MOST LIKELY ARE GUILTY OF MURDERING AND RAPING TWO INNOCENT TOURISTS.

 

Disapointed to see a Royal Pardon! Better pardon and free all the poor Thai suckers who are thrown in jail on petty non violent drug charges. 

 

 

You have clearly not looked at the case at all, just following your usual agenda. here's a FACT for you........Plenty of news reports, articles, comments form the British police and even a couple of Documentaries that followed the families of the victims the work done by British police that shows that the Burmese are likely innocent and there was a coverup.

[jerolamo]

The woman was raped. What about DNA tests ? Kho Tao is a very little island and have camera everywhere... how is it possible to have no evidences there ?

[DaveE13]

24 minutes ago, Patts said:

You have clearly not looked at the case at all, just following your usual agenda. here's a FACT for you........Plenty of news reports, articles, comments form the British police and even a couple of Documentaries that followed the families of the victims the work done by British police that shows that the Burmese are likely innocent and there was a coverup.

I wouldn't bother with this poster. His usual rubbish. He even thought old fatties borrowed watch collection  was no big deal. It was only a few thousand bhat. Lol

[CorpusChristie]

1 hour ago, The Barmbeker said:

 

Many Thais I talked to, were 100% convinced, that the Burmese did not do it!

But there is something else, that I find weird, and it is connected to the ongoing student- protests and what they are alledgedly about...and against!

 

It seems that the only people who believe that the Burmese 2 are guilty are those with vested business interests on Kao Tao , those who rely on tourists to the island to earn a living .

[The Barmbeker]

24 minutes ago, jerolamo said:

The woman was raped. What about DNA tests ? Kho Tao is a very little island and have camera everywhere... how is it possible to have no evidences there ?

Oh there were DNA- tests!

Some were lost, some were botched, some were inconclusive...

The only thing that always 100% certain: it was NOT the original suspect!

Make of that, what you will!

[Burma Bill]

14 minutes ago, DaveE13 said:

I wouldn't bother with this poster. His usual rubbish. He even thought old fatties borrowed watch collection  was no big deal. It was only a few thousand bhat. Lol

Sorry, but I disagree. Several of the comments are relevant and not "usual rubbish". UK police officers did come to Thailand to assist Thai colleagues and "confidential evidence" was established BUT not allowed in court (after inter-government discussions at a very high level). I could say more but must keep my mouth shut.

[Neeranam]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I wonder if the Thais expect them to be grateful for such "clemency" given the way they stitched them up in the first place?

Do you mean the Thai government or police? Most Thais have never even heard of these two. 

[Spock]

1 hour ago, Road Warrior said:

out in a few years released  .ok to kill again ,what about EYE 4 A EYE ??

You really don't know much about this case, do you?!

[DaveE13]

19 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Sorry, but I disagree. Several of the comments are relevant and not "usual rubbish". UK police officers did come to Thailand to assist Thai colleagues and "confidential evidence" was established BUT not allowed in court (after inter-government discussions at a very high level). I could say more but must keep my mouth shut.

Sorry Bill I was talking about Hermin not you. I agree 100 percent