British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video)

[webfact]

 

The British backpacker murderers have made fresh appeals against their sentence claiming they are innocent of beating an English couple to death in Thailand ten years ago.

 

Two Burmese bar workers were accused of murdering British couple David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao Island in 2014. The bar workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, who have consistently maintained their innocence, stated they have spent a decade behind bars for a crime they did not commit.

 

The alleged murderers, now both 29, penned letters to the Thai authorities appealing against their sentence, claiming they were framed for the two murders on the notorious backpackers’ destination Koh Tao, also known as “Death Island.”

Zaw Lin wrote to his legal team pleading with them to make a fresh appeal.

“I have been in prison [for] almost 10 years for nothing, it’s unbelievable. Could you please retrial again my case? I’ve never seen the people who died on the beach at Koh Tao.”

 

The accused killers criticised Thai detectives for conducting a “botched” investigation. The Daily Mirror disclosed that they have received visits from a delegation of solicitors in prison, which includes a British justice campaigner.

 

Picture of Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo at the public reenactment of the crime

Zaw Lin has written several letters from Thailand’s notorious Bang Kwang jail, also known as the Bangkok Hilton, demanding he be freed because he claims he is innocent.

 

“I will be 29 this month. It’s so sad to know that I am wasting my young life away for nothing. I think I will get out of prison in a few more years… as I have already been in prison a long time. They should set me free now. I am sad to think I wasted my young life in prison for nothing.”

 

David, originally from St Helier, Jersey, and Hannah, hailing from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, both travelled independently to Thailand where they crossed paths during their journeys. David embarked on his trip after completing his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds. Scheduled to start a master’s degree, he was backpacking with a friend following a six-week work placement in Australia.

 

During a police investigation, the two perpetrators were compelled to reenact the crime. Clad in crash helmets, police vests, and handcuffs, they demonstrated how they brutally attacked Hannah and David with a garden hoe.

Hannah, holding a first-class degree from the University of East Anglia, was pursuing a master’s degree in speech and language therapy in Essex.

 

David and Hannah were last sighted at the AC Bar with friends before departing together after 1 am on September 15, 2014. Their lifeless bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach, close to their hotel, around 4.30 am by a beach cleaner. Hannah had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, while David had sustained head injuries and drowned.

 

Death Island

 

The murders brought attention to Koh Tao, a tourist hotspot dubbed “Death Island” due to a series of fatal incidents. Zaw Lin and Zaw Tun were apprehended and confessed initially, but later recanted their statements, alleging torture. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence from cigarette butts connecting them to David’s murder and the rape and murder of Hannah.

 

However, their trial in Koh Samui revealed that DNA from two distinct individuals was found on the garden hoe believed to be the murder weapon. Advocates argue they were framed by Thai authorities keen on maintaining the country’s tourist-friendly reputation.

Zaw Lin asserted that the forensic evidence connecting him to the garden hoe was flawed.

 

“The DNA they found out is probably from cigarettes and not from the dead bodies [sic]. They didn’t actually have any other concrete evidence to convict and give me [the] death sentence.

 

“Amnesty is for all who stay with good behaviour in prison. I think just [a] few people were released with the amnesties over the years… and go home. The rest never saw the amnesties which were delivered between 2020 and 2023. I hope the next amnesties won’t be like that as the Government has changed.”

 

The Burmese migrants were informed that they would face execution by lethal injection in 2015. However, their death sentences were commuted in 2020 due to a royal pardon, and they were instead sentenced to life imprisonment. At that time, David’s family expressed gratitude to the Thai authorities for sparing their lives but stated their wish for the pair to spend “a very long time in jail where they cannot harm other families.”

 

Release dates

 

In January of this year, the legal team representing the killers reached out to Thai authorities seeking “clarity” regarding efforts to reduce their sentences. However, they were informed that the release dates would remain unchanged.

 

Campaigners argue that the pair should be acquitted due to contamination of the crime scene and flaws in the forensic methodology.

 

Andy Hall, an international affairs adviser for their legal defence team, confirmed that lawyers and translators recently visited the pair in prison to address “their requests for clarity in their sentence reduction.”

 

“Any further support regarding appeals against their convictions could only be explored if and when new and credible witnesses or evidence came to light or was passed to them, at which stage the legal defence team remains ready to consider such evidence and respond accordingly.”

 

 

by Bob Scott

TOP: Picture of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge courtesy of @PodcastRiddle

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-02

 

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[scubascuba3]

Not sure anyone believes they were the murderers, imagine that, being in prison for a crime you didn't commit 

[In Full Agreement]

10 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not sure anyone believes they were the murderers, imagine that, being in prison for a crime you didn't commit 

 

Unfortunately,  in Thailand even if the actual murderers are found, I doubt these  Burmese fellows  would  receive  any compensation for their time  already spent in prison.

[xylophone]

21 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not sure anyone believes they were the murderers, imagine that, being in prison for a crime you didn't commit 

The whole case was a farce, carried out by incompetant police who, it would appear, were in the pay of a powerful island figure. I saw the original pics and agree with a few others who suggested that it was carried out in anger (over being spurned at the bar). 

 

A shameful episode along with a few other blatant cases in Thailand's past.

[Rampant Rabbit]

wasnt it the headmans kid who did it then jumped on a boat to BKK "allegedly"

[smedly]

43 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Unfortunately,  in Thailand even if the actual murderers are found, I doubt these  Burmese fellows  would  receive  any compensation for their time  already spent in prison.

shark tooth ring, they never did explain the injuries on David, DNA - there's none left from a massive sample, the hoe went missing before any investigation had started and was put back against the tree 200m away by the gardener who was told to do so, how did he know it was the murder weapon and why did he tell the gardener to put it back even before the police arrived on scene

 

and the confusion about the phones

[Chetzee]

Shocking miscarriage of justice ...... the only positive being a personal one , where the developing story allowed me to go down a rabbit hole for 18 months while dealing with a sever bout of depression ........ If not for the day to day ,hour by hour engagement with the unfolding  farce I'm not I'd have made it through ...... 

[smedly]

39 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I saw the original pics and agree with a few others who suggested that it was carried out in anger (over being spurned at the bar). 

agree, this was not a simple rape and murder - it was revenge with Malice and retribution by someone who was refused by Hannah in the bar - do you know who I am

[smedly]

1 hour ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Unfortunately,  in Thailand even if the actual murderers are found, I doubt these  Burmese fellows  would  receive  any compensation for their time  already spent in prison.

the thai population on that island know exactly who did it

[smedly]

44 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

wasnt it the headmans kid who did it then jumped on a boat to BKK "allegedly"

no witnesses to place him on the island or none that would come forward 

[Jack100]

Sounds familiar to the  Hanratty case in the UK ! Contaminated or botched DNA ! 

[Purdey]

Unfortunately, any Thai government would lose a lot of face if it were proven that the Thai police were incompetent or in the pay of a local dark forces. Moreover, the fact that the condemned are Burmese makes it more important to show that foreigners are bad, Thais are good.

[Goat]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

beating an English couple to death

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Goat said:

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

If ever anyone was capable of repeatedly reaffirming the obvious flaws in their character it has to be the poster above....

 

This time his despicable comment removes any doubt for anyone sitting on the fence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jollyhangmon]

26 minutes ago, Goat said:

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

 

What the ... ???

 

You're definitely a heck of a fick suck fella!

 

[metisdead]

A post with unsubstantiated claims contravening our Community Standards and the replies have been removed.

[ChrisY1]

Where's Nomsod?

[Dolf]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not sure anyone believes they were the murderers, imagine that, being in prison for a crime you didn't commit 

Look at small and weak they are. Generally murderers look like murderers. They don't.

[Dolf]

5 hours ago, Goat said:

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

Young people change partners

[roo860]

5 hours ago, Goat said:

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

Were they staying at the same hotel or guest house and the same room?

[roo860]

6 hours ago, Goat said:

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

And a friend of Miss Witheridge's ex-boyfriend, who did not want to be named, said the couple had split just four months before she went travelling and he had been left "heartbroken" at her death.

 

She declined to name Miss Witheridge's ex-boyfriend but said he had criticised the police investigation into her death on Facebook..

 

The above article from The Standard newspaper. 

[chickenslegs]

7 hours ago, Goat said:

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

Disgusting comment, taking 'victim blaming' to a new level.

[Wobblybob]

11 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Disgusting comment, taking 'victim blaming' to a new level.

This guy can give a masterclass on xenophobia. He should be nowhere near a forum! 

[still kicking]

7 hours ago, Goat said:

They were not a couple.

Hannah had a boyfriend back in England who could not make the trip.

She had only met this David fella there in Koh Tao.

Terrible price to pay but if she had of been a faithful girlfriend she would still be alive today.

 

RIP

Victims bashing again? You are a sick goat.

[Harsh Jones]

10 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Unfortunately,  in Thailand even if the actual murderers are found, I doubt these  Burmese fellows  would  receive  any compensation for their time  already spent in prison.

Thats right. There's no justice in this life. They were in the worst place at the worst time. And that's that 

[Harsh Jones]

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

If ever anyone was capable of repeatedly reaffirming the obvious flaws in their character it has to be the poster above....

 

This time his despicable comment removes any doubt for anyone sitting on the fence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The poster is most likely a conservative female. Just putting that out there 

[Harsh Jones]

9 hours ago, smedly said:

the thai population on that island know exactly who did it

Why can't they just agree to slip these poor bastards out the back door and back to Burma

[smedly]

14 hours ago, smedly said:

shark tooth ring, they never did explain the injuries on David, DNA - there's none left from a massive sample, the hoe went missing before any investigation had started and was put back against the tree 200m away by the gardener who was told to do so, how did he know it was the murder weapon and why did he tell the gardener to put it back even before the police arrived on scene

 

and the confusion about the phones

David had puncture wounds on his arms  - i know how they were made, David tried to help Hannah and payed the ulitmate price - very brave a hero in my estimation 

 

this is what happens when <deleted> thai cowards are mixing with innocent  western young girls trying enjoy a holiday - this is not "shark tooth ring" only rodeo, 

 

people especially young western women should  give this island a very very wide birth

 

you think you are having fun with the locals (avoid at all costs) until  you are expected to do something you don't want to do..............then you are in a heap of trouble, never ever be alone on Death Island, Koh Toa - there are predators who will not take rejection lighlty - cowards 

 

be very careful on that island 

[smedly]

5 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

Thats right. There's no justice in this life. They were in the worst place at the worst time. And that's that 

look, most of us frequent most popular areas were falang rarely interact with Thais, not so islands like koh tao, they are right there mixing with falangs but they are only interested in young females - getting them drunk and taking advantage - Hannah wasn't  playing the game, a young beautiful blond who decided to go home, she was raped and killed in the most horrific way possible, the way she was left exposed like that says it all, ## cowards ............ you know who you are and so do I

 

the Burmese guys were sitting on on the beach playing guitar - no way did they do this, it takes a special kind of evil to do that................shark tooth ring coward

[spidermike007]

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are as innocent as the day is long, many people from that area know what the truth is, that the son of the headman of Sairee Beach is a serial killer, and David and Hannah are not the only ones he's taken out.

 

These guys were framed, this is a super rich family who own the police, and this entire thing was a big setup from the beginning. It is a despicable situation, where truth and justice have never mattered.