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

[transam]

1 hour ago, Road Warrior said:

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

Oh hello, hows things....?  ????

[Mywayboy]

Another travesty of Thai Justice.

[NoComment]

The likelihood is that they will die in jail anyways.

No money, treated like slaves (and worse) in the jail.

Slow death or the Death Sentence.??

 

 

 

[IslandLover]

3 hours 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.

 

 

Thank you for remembering the key facts in this case so well.  Others on this forum appear to have no clue.

 

You are absolutely correct when you say that this case will never be solved publicly.  No-one, including those screaming GUILTY, knows what really happened that night, apart from the perpetrators, whoever they may be.

[kiwikeith]

9 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?

This is a move to restore faith in the police and the justice system and to take weight off the lytany of lies, murder and corruption at present, but good for the B2 who are 2 innocent courageous young men. 

[Susco]

1 hour 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.

 

Yes good idea to keep your mouth shut, since UK police provided crucial evidence that got them convicted

[CorpusChristie]

1 minute ago, Susco said:

 

Yes good idea to keep your mouth shut, since UK police provided crucial evidence that got them convicted

No you are wrong , the UK Police had no involvement in the investigation or the Court proceeding or any evidence at all , the UK Police were there strictly to observe , not to say anything or publicly state their observations .

   The UK Police just watched and reported back confidentially to the UK Gov  

[owl sees all]

1 hour 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.

If I can recall the UK police were critical in the proceedings directly after the bodies wee discovered. Not sealing off the crime scene was one, and there were others.

 

Better to die in a hail of bullets than on your knees pleading.

 

 

[scubascuba3]

The Koh Tao murders were as shady as the Redbull case, no one believes the criminal process

[maxcorrigan]

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

a travesty of justice ... scapegoats comes to mind.

And yet your hero said at the time a Thai would never do this, and as we know he would never ever lie, would he Steven (sarc.)

 

[IslandLover]

19 minutes ago, Susco said:

 

Yes good idea to keep your mouth shut, since UK police provided crucial evidence that got them convicted

If you mean the details of David Miller's phone then what they did was illegal and it is a contentious issue.  Wai Phyo was convicted of stealing David Miller's phone and it was therefore inferred by the prosecution that he was involved in the murder of David Miller.  Equally, he could have been telling the truth when he said he found it on the beach.  Zaw Lin had nothing whatsoever to do with the phone, yet he was convicted of the murders as well. The "phone evidence" - illegally obtained and contentious, and submitted with great fanfare at the very last minute in court - appeared to be the deciding factor in this case ????.

[smew]

Simply sad.... 

[CorpusChristie]

5 minutes ago, Susco said:

Yes it was crucial evidence, as it showed the phone in the same location as the victims, and it was used to convict them.

 

 

Do you think that a phone being in the location of a murder is enough evidence to convict someone of murder , 

  Considering that its very small island and everyone lives in the same small area .

No other evidence , no sightings, DNA or anything else

[CorpusChristie]

3 minutes ago, IslandLover said:

If you mean the details of David Miller's phone then what they did was illegal and it is a contentious issue.  Wai Phyo was convicted of stealing David Miller's phone and it was therefore inferred by the prosecution that he was involved in the murder of David Miller.  Equally, he could have been telling the truth when he said he found it on the beach.  Zaw Lin had nothing whatsoever to do with the phone, yet he was convicted of the murders as well. The "phone evidence" - illegally obtained and contentious, and submitted with great fanfare at the very last minute in court - appeared to be the deciding factor in this case ????.

Wasnt that the phone that was thrown into Wai Phyos house or placed near his room ?

[IslandLover]

15 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Wasnt that the phone that was thrown into Wai Phyos house or placed near his room ?

The story that Wai Phyo gave was that he found it on the beach on the night of the murders, couldn't get it to work and gave it to his friends, who then disposed of it at the back of their accommodation after hearing about the murders.  The police retrieved it from there.  Thanks to the "help" given by the British police, it was later proved in court to be David Miller's phone, but only at the very last minute at the end of the trial.

 

Prior to that, the British police had been completely obstructive by refusing to give the Defence team any indication of their findings from their visit to Thailand to "observe" the case.  This was even challenged in the High Court in London, but the Defence lost the case, unfortunately.  It was a terrible business. Even the presiding judge was skeptical.

Edited August 15, 2020 by IslandLover

[CorpusChristie]

2 minutes ago, IslandLover said:

The story that Wai Phyo gave was that he found it on the beach on the night of the murders, couldn't get it to work and gave it to his friends, who then disposed of it at the back of their accommodation after hearing about the murders.  The police retrieved it from there.  Thanks to the "help" given by the British police, it was later proved in court to be David Miller's phone, but only at the very last minute at the end of the trial.

 

 

Yes, if you find a phone on a beach at night , it wouldnt be unusual to pick it up and take it home .

it would be rather stupid if you had just killed someone , then pick up their phone and take it home with you . 

[bradiston]

So as not to drag the whole case back into the spotlight - I mean the justice system etc - they will be released and deported back to Myanmar shortly. Carpet raised, dust swept. Don't want another Red Bull.

[IslandLover]

7 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.

"blood victim on them"?  Please provide a link to the evidence for this so-called fact which was never mentioned in court.  I would have thought it would have been crucial to the prosecution's case.

[maxcorrigan]

4 hours ago, CorpusChristie said:

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 ?

I think mainly coincidence, David Miller's brother was satisfied the police had done a good job, unlike the girl's sister who came to Thailand to find out out more and at was at first offered money to shut up then threatened and suggested she leave Thailand with the lovely suggestion to tell her parents to make another daughter, the sister has since died from cancer unfortunately!

[maxcorrigan]

4 hours ago, The Barmbeker said:

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!

 

Yes it seemed like they were told they were pointing the wrong way by the police!

[IslandLover]

15 minutes ago, maxcorrigan said:

I think mainly coincidence, David Miller's brother was satisfied the police had done a good job, unlike the girl's sister who came to Thailand to find out out more and at was at first offered money to shut up then threatened and suggested she leave Thailand with the lovely suggestion to tell her parents to make another daughter, the sister has since died from cancer unfortunately!

Not quite true I'm afraid.  The entire Witheridge family were abused by the police and the Thai authorities when they came to Thailand after the murder of their daughter, Hannah.  Hannah's sister, Laura Witheridge Daniels later wrote about their experiences and was threatened by the Thai police with the Computer Crimes Act!  Laura was never convinced of the guilt of the two Burmese. Laura sadly passed away almost a year ago but it wasn't from cancer.  The Witheridge family has suffered enough tragedy.

[Sheryl]

The 2 person flamefest is officially over. Any more and both parties will find themselves on a posting holiday.

[Scott]

Off-topic, inflammatory posts and replies reported and removed.   Continued bickering will result in suspensions.  

 

[dgwooster]

Didn't one of them have David's smartphone and also claim he was looking for a guitar on the beach at 3 am? 

I've heard different stories about that.   

Edited August 15, 2020 by dgwooster

[GoodieAfterDark]

Any explanation to why those people were killed? Did they do anything stupid? Just curious. I know that foreigners never do anything stupid in Thailand.

[tomauasia]

2 innocent kids who couldn't rape a doll. I'm a hard and smart man and l read people in 2 min.

Yes let your Thai man roam free. 

[Susco]

4 minutes ago, tomauasia said:

2 innocent kids who couldn't rape a doll. I'm a hard and smart man and l read people in 2 min.

Yes let your Thai man roam free. 

Amazing how lucky we are with this forum filled with the best forensic experts, or actually the best of the best experts in any field you can think about, including expert psychologists, who can read peoples mind from a picture in a newspaper.

 

I almost feel as if I sit on a barstool in a popular Pattaya bar.

[Sujo]

30 minutes ago, Susco said:

Amazing how lucky we are with this forum filled with the best forensic experts, or actually the best of the best experts in any field you can think about, including expert psychologists, who can read peoples mind from a picture in a newspaper.

 

I almost feel as if I sit on a barstool in a popular Pattaya bar.

Well the thais certainly didnt have competent forensics or police investigation.

[Sujo]

49 minutes ago, GoodieAfterDark said:

Any explanation to why those people were killed? Did they do anything stupid? Just curious. I know that foreigners never do anything stupid in Thailand.

No, they got together in a bar and went for a walk on the beach. Normal thing to do on a tropical island.

[CorpusChristie]

1 hour ago, GoodieAfterDark said:

Any explanation to why those people were killed? Did they do anything stupid? Just curious. I know that foreigners never do anything stupid in Thailand.

Female victim was talking with the non accused in the bar , Male victim walked in the bar and walked out with Female victim .

  Non accused was infuriated and lost face and could handle the rejection .

Non accused and friends followed the victims out the bar onto the beach , victims  died, Burmese 2 got charged