DNA tests from British Koh Tao victims don't match with suspects: Update

[webfact]

DNA tests from British victims don't match with suspects
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 19 -- Pol Gen Jaramporn Suramanee, adviser to the Royal Thai Police, on Thursday went to Ko Tao, an island in the Gulf of Thailand off the southern province of Surat Thani, where two British tourists were brutally murdered earlier this week to conduct detailed investigation.

He decided to visit the crime scene again after DNA tests on the bodies of the two victims did not match with any suspect interrogated by police earlier.

The bodies of the two victims identified as David William Miller, 24, and 23-year-old Hannah Victoria Witheridge were found early Monday on a Koh Tao beach.

Meanwhile, Tourist Police commander Pol Maj Gen Apichai Thi-amart said British embassy officials early Thursday picked up Christopher Alan Ware and his younger brother.

Pol Maj Gen Apichai said he expected the embassy would send them back to Britain later today while the embassy is willing to coordinate with the two if police want additional information from them.

Wounds on Mr Ware's hand were caused by playing with fireworks as confirmed by medical certificate, said Pol Maj Gen Apichai. Mr. Ware was believed to be a friend of Mr Miller.

Police earlier asked Mr Ware not to leave Thailand as they suspected that he was probably involved in the murder.

Mr Ware’s younger brother, according to police, returned to Bangkok from Ko Tao before the murder took place and was not involved in the incident.

British Consul Michael Hancock, accompanied by relatives of Ms Witheridge, met Pol Gen Jaramporn and asked about progress i n the case as well as on autopsy results from the victims.

Pol Gen Jaramporn told journalists that Ms Witheridge's family asked the media to present only constructive reports by taking their feelings into consideration. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-09-19

[sweatalot]

"Pol Gen Jaramporn told journalists that Ms Witheridge's family asked the media to present only constructive reports by taking their feelings into consideration. "

They should have asked also the RTP

But they should have known anyway - and the RTP as well

Will they ever learn from this and so many other cases?

[chooka]

Might be time to just consider that thais may have been involved. I say plural because two lots of semen found on the girls body and they didn't belong to Mr Miller.

[chooka]

"Pol Gen Jaramporn told journalists that Ms Witheridge's family asked the media to present only constructive reports by taking their feelings into consideration. "

They should have asked also the RTP

But they should have known anyway - and the RTP as well

Will they ever learn from this and so many other cases?

I think it is the P.M who has the serious bout of foot in mouth decease. Guess he is just telling the media to censor what jabber jaw says as the tool just shoots his mouth off.

[worgeordie]

I think its about time,the police will select someone,just to save face.

happens quiet a lot i hear.

regards Worgeordie

[zydeco]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

[Triplebank999]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

"Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case?"

Found guilty and jailed.

[NongKhaiKid]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and the international interest poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

As they say in journalism this story has ' legs '.

Tourists brutally murdered, irresponsible comments from officialdom all the way up to the PM which have been ringing around the world.

LoS only seen as caring about tourist money not the victims. Police officers posting scene of crime pictures on social media and on and on.

This sort of headline doesn't go away easily no matter how much the Thais may want it to and by their own actions they have fueled controversy and therefore continued interest. The international media doesn't give as easily as their local counterparts.

[NongKhaiKid]

Sorry about typo, last sentence should read ' ... give up as easily ... "

[zydeco]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and the international interest poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

As they say in journalism this story has ' legs '.

Tourists brutally murdered, irresponsible comments from officialdom all the way up to the PM which have been ringing around the world.

LoS only seen as caring about tourist money not the victims. Police officers posting scene of crime pictures on social media and on and on.

This sort of headline doesn't go away easily no matter how much the Thais may want it to and by their own actions they have fueled controversy and therefore continued interest. The international media doesn't give as easily as their local counterparts.

Except . . . think about it . . . a taxi driver kills his passenger with a samurai sword and most of it is on CCTV. That is something anybody who has ever used a taxi can directly relate to--especially, here. And the story goes down the memory hole. Two girls gassed in their hotel room and we hear nothing. Don't know about anybody else, but I've been on pins and needles about Thai hotels ever since. Yet this story has 13 separate threads running on the first page of TV Thai news. I'm not sure the coup got that many.

[NongKhaiKid]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and the international interest poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

As they say in journalism this story has ' legs '.

Tourists brutally murdered, irresponsible comments from officialdom all the way up to the PM which have been ringing around the world.

LoS only seen as caring about tourist money not the victims. Police officers posting scene of crime pictures on social media and on and on.

This sort of headline doesn't go away easily no matter how much the Thais may want it to and by their own actions they have fueled controversy and therefore continued interest. The international media doesn't give as easily as their local counterparts.

Except . . . think about it . . . a taxi driver kills his passenger with a samurai sword and most of it is on CCTV. That is something anybody who has ever used a taxi can directly relate to--especially, here. And the story goes down the memory hole. Two girls gassed in their hotel room and we hear nothing. Don't know about anybody else, but I've been on pins and needles about Thai hotels ever since. Yet this story has 13 separate threads running on the first page of TV Thai news. I'm not sure the coup got that many.

i've been in Asia for 37 years and really can't explain how ghoulish the media can be with pictures and reports in the very worst of taste.

[amykat]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

"Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case?"

Found guilty and jailed.

Really? That seems rather quick. Could you share with us how you know??

[zydeco]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

"Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case?"

Found guilty and jailed.

Really? That seems rather quick. Could you share with us how you know??

I missed the story, too. Was there a TV follow up? I would like details. How long was the sentence?

[cloudhopper]

I think its about time,the police will select someone,just to save face.

happens quiet a lot i hear.

regards Worgeordie

Perhaps it does but that approach will be particularly difficult in this case.

[mauGR1]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and the international interest poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

As they say in journalism this story has ' legs '.

Tourists brutally murdered, irresponsible comments from officialdom all the way up to the PM which have been ringing around the world.

LoS only seen as caring about tourist money not the victims. Police officers posting scene of crime pictures on social media and on and on.

This sort of headline doesn't go away easily no matter how much the Thais may want it to and by their own actions they have fueled controversy and therefore continued interest. The international media doesn't give as easily as their local counterparts.

Well, sorry to say that on " the guardian " webpage, this piece of news has slipped from 2nd to 14th position in the time of a couple of days, even women golf seems to be more important.

Unless something new happens, it will be all forgotten in 1/2 weeks.... Except for the relatives and friends, who will carry the huge pain for the rest of their lives.

Sadly, for the little i know, i'm afraid that this atrocious crime will never be solved.

May you RIP, Hannah and David.

[Raymonddiaz]

The first mistake of the investigators is ...............The killers are not Thai

[falangjim]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

Not to trivialize the murder of the passenger in the taxi, (may he rest in peace) but he was a long term ex-pat, I believe. From reports, he was fluent in Thai and probably well aware what scrapping with a Thai taxi driver gets you in return. In his case, there was provocation.

I'm not familiar with the gang violence story. I do recall the two girls who were poisoned, but if memory serves correct, there was too much confusion as to whether they ingested poisonous mushrooms, ... (it was all vague) And if memory serves correctly, there was plenty of press on it. American girls, right? More Britons travel here for holiday than Americans could be one reason it didn't get as much press.

Unfortunately, this current story keeps gathering momentum because the Thais have--in typical fashion--bungled it, royally.

[Emster23]

Remember when crimes used to be solved without using DNA evidence? Even if cig butt DNA doesn't implicate some suspect, do they ever consider maybe cig had nothing to do with the crime? It's not like Thailand's pristine beaches are pristine... Hard thorough investigation needs to be done rather than this sort of preconceived profile of what sort of person (non Thai) would do this. I just happened to reread "Helter Skelter" book about Manson killings this week. Brilliant job of tracking down obscure leads etc and all without DNA.

[phantomfiddler]

Might be time to just consider that thais may have been involved. I say plural because two lots of semen found on the girls body and they didn't belong to Mr Miller.

Mathematically there would be an extremely high probability of this being the case, and any sensible bookmaker would lay odds on it.

[Alwyn]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and the international interest poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

As they say in journalism this story has ' legs '.

Tourists brutally murdered, irresponsible comments from officialdom all the way up to the PM which have been ringing around the world.

LoS only seen as caring about tourist money not the victims. Police officers posting scene of crime pictures on social media and on and on.

This sort of headline doesn't go away easily no matter how much the Thais may want it to and by their own actions they have fueled controversy and therefore continued interest. The international media doesn't give as easily as their local counterparts.

There is another aspect too. When a taxi driver kills a passenger with his samurai sword it's kind of half expected (I know, it's a terrible thing to say) as it's well known a lot of these people are off their tits on yaba etc, every day we see on the news some atrocity or another and I think we grow immune to it in a away. But when it involves tourists and such heinous crimes like this it seems closer to home. Just a few months ago the American father & son who were attacked resulting in the death of the son was front page for a while. On another note there is a similar situation in reverse in the UK. A Latvian being hunted for the murder of a 14 year old girl - the guy had done 7 years for murder in Latvia already. That beggars the question why he was let into the country.. (the answer is the EU by the way)

[alfalfa19]

Why is this particular case getting so much attention? Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case? A gang murders a man outside a karaoke bar and the story disappears. How did the court treat those murderers? Two young women poisoned in the hotel rooms and poof! But for some reason we have multiple, multiple threads running in TV on this case, the involvement of high level officials, and embassies.

"Taxi driver kills a passenger with a samurai sword, and the headline disappears. What happened with that case?"

Found guilty and jailed.

Really? That seems rather quick. Could you share with us how you know??

Also, does anybody know of further developments in the case of the two canadian girls who were poisoned? Last I heard, the Canadian govt had the answer, but I have not heard anything since. I remember the ass clown police implying the girls brought it upon themselves, because , among other things, they had ibuprofen in their room.

[LanceGringo]

Remember when crimes used to be solved without using DNA evidence? Even if cig butt DNA doesn't implicate some suspect, do they ever consider maybe cig had nothing to do with the crime? It's not like Thailand's pristine beaches are pristine... Hard thorough investigation needs to be done rather than this sort of preconceived profile of what sort of person (non Thai) would do this. I just happened to reread "Helter Skelter" book about Manson killings this week. Brilliant job of tracking down obscure leads etc and all without DNA.

The cigarette butt DOES have something to do with the crime. The DNA found on the girl victim, matches the DNA on the cigarette butt.

If you're going to post on one of these threads, why not have at least some idea of what you're talking about, rather than questioning things that were revealed days ago!