New evidence found in tourists’ murder case

[boomerangutang]

I also suggested (via letters/comments in the 2 Eng.lang newspapers), as soon as the awful news story rang out, that Thais get outside farang help in the investigation. Some of the evidence is/has already deteriorating as we speak. Competent, objective, scientific-oriented investigators are needed for this double murder to be solved.

Not long ago, NASA wanted to set up a scientific station in Thailand. After forgetting about it for 11 months, the Yingluck gov't got reminded (by NASA) and sat up, thought a few seconds, and decided to not allow it, even though all its funding would have been farang money. Thailand needs all the real scientific influence it can get. Sweep out the old (belief in ghosts, talismans, boogie men, fire breathing dragons, bad omens, ad nauseum) and ring in reality. This is a wake up call for Thailand to come in to the 21st Century.

[billsmart]

...but the trouser evidence doesn't prove rape or murder, only petty theft...

[Plutojames88]

In a crime scene involving rape and brutal murder of a woman in Melbourne Australia -

Police immediately used CCTV footage to get leads .

Then DNA .

This isn't rocket science .

It's appalling a total of 5-6 days pass before a simple step is taken like go to the footage.

And this story about it being the victims clothing?

Lets look at the mans measurements compared to the victims before we blindly take some patsy bait

[Farma]

Skynews has a news story on CCTV footage taken in front of an ATM at 0127 showing David walking along in short pants and shaking hands with an Asian man wearing a shirt with 9 on the back and dark long pants. There is further CCTV footage at 0156 taken in front of a roti cart. They say they've handed the footage over to Thai police.

http://news.sky.com/story/1338593/thailand-cctv-of-british-man-killed-on-beach

Edited September 20, 2014 by Farma

[Manbing]

The point of DNA testing of communities old young male and female is to find matches and close related matches. Does no-one watch CSI?

Finding a close match sister, mother etc, could provide just the right clue to localize the investigation.

[Manbing]

...but the trouser evidence doesn't prove rape or murder, only petty theft...

Whilst this is nominally true, brutal interrogation will enable a confession to larger crimes.

[asdecas]

Does the negativity towards anything Thai and anything done by Thais never stop on Thaivisa??

Why is it a loss of face, to ask a better equiped policeforce for help?

Thousands of Thais are murdered every year, but because the victims this time are Brits, we expect the world to stop.

Don't misunderstand me, a very horrible crime, but why are white victims considered more valuable, and all stops need to be pulled to solve this particular case?

Morality and humanity aside, I think you know the answer to your question; precisely because it is high profile and on one of Thailand's 'paradise' islands, so beloved of TTT.

It is difficult not to be cynical when almost the first utterance on this crime from the very top relates not to the desperate tragedy of the crime, but to how it may affect the country's tourism.

[ramrod711]

Meanwhile forensic police from Bangkok joined local forensic police in Surat Thani to collect DNA samples from more than 20 Myanmar workers both male and female rounded up from the vicinity of the crime scene and also their finger prints.

Why would anyone waste time and money taking DNA samples from any women in a murder rape case ?

As for the trousers being on the killer running off..... well................

Coz a woman can be part of the murder too.

Oh come on stop picking at straws its almost unheard of for women to be involved in a double murder rape.

You ever heard of process of elimination ? well usually you discount the least likely and look at the most likely first and try to narrow that down..... ie male you dont waste your time or funds with females until much later.

You only go and spend time on the least likely much later... id say its highly likely with at least 2 DNA its male and therefore much better to DNA all males, especially those not yet done with local knowledge, ie Thai local males...

Gee Sherlock you should rush to the scene and offer your expert advice and opinions, I'm almost certain the RTP would welcome them as much as the rest of us.

[CiaranO]

Personally think the BIB will try to pin this on a Myanmar worker to save face at this stage.

[pattayaorganic]

There is absolutely no loss of face for requesting assistance on DNA evidence. Latest generation Illumina sequencing equipment can sequence an entire human genome and extract a lot more information about a suspect than a match/no match testing which is quite common. The US has the most advanced sequencing equipment which takes about 24h to sequence a full human genome and it takes a lot of specialised computing power and knowledge to process that information which the US FBI has more than any other law enforcement agency.

Although I am also guilty of Thai bashing as I drive through the roads in this country I think many on TV take this a bit too far.

Lest you all forget that Thaialnd is a developing country and for any of us that have spent time in Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, etc. Thailand is miles ahead of these countries on innumerable fronts. Every country has its pluses and minuses but the reason most of us are still here is that there are a lot more pluses than minuses.

In my home country I can get hauled off to jail for driving with an expired license, whereas here we can take care of it for 200b. Do you expect to live in a militant nanny state and still enjoy the freedoms of Thailand?

It was a horrible crime and given the environment of Koh Tao, I believe the police are doing as good a job as we can reasonably expect. Do you think some back water US hick town of comparable development and population density would do any better??

[SCARLETIBIS1]

...but the trouser evidence doesn't prove rape or murder, only petty theft...

True, but if you saw a couple of dead bodies laying around you gonna take off his shorts? IQ here may not be very high but can't be that low.

[phantomfiddler]

Does the negativity towards anything Thai and anything done by Thais never stop on Thaivisa??

Why is it a loss of face, to ask a better equiped policeforce for help?

Thousands of Thais are murdered every year, but because the victims this time are Brits, we expect the world to stop.

Don't misunderstand me, a very horrible crime, but why are white victims considered more valuable, and all stops need to be pulled to solve this particular case?

Why ? Because this crime could affect the number of tourists bringing money into the country and spending it, that,s why !

[SCARLETIBIS1]

There is absolutely no loss of face for requesting assistance on DNA evidence. Latest generation Illumina sequencing equipment can sequence an entire human genome and extract a lot more information about a suspect than a match/no match testing which is quite common. The US has the most advanced sequencing equipment which takes about 24h to sequence a full human genome and it takes a lot of specialised computing power and knowledge to process that information which the US FBI has more than any other law enforcement agency.

Although I am also guilty of Thai bashing as I drive through the roads in this country I think many on TV take this a bit too far.

Lest you all forget that Thaialnd is a developing country and for any of us that have spent time in Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, etc. Thailand is miles ahead of these countries on innumerable fronts. Every country has its pluses and minuses but the reason most of us are still here is that there are a lot more pluses than minuses.

In my home country I can get hauled off to jail for driving with an expired license, whereas here we can take care of it for 200b. Do you expect to live in a militant nanny state and still enjoy the freedoms of Thailand?

It was a horrible crime and given the environment of Koh Tao, I believe the police are doing as good a job as we can reasonably expect. Do you think some back water US hick town of comparable development and population density would do any better??

Yes, I do. And "hicks" is an insulting word and this post should be deleted. On the other hand I'd put my money on the "hick" cops over the Thai cops anytime. Btw, are you saying the island cops are dumber than the rest of the Thai cops?

Edited September 20, 2014 by SCARLETIBIS1

[meatboy]

Meanwhile forensic police from Bangkok joined local forensic police in Surat Thani to collect DNA samples from more than 20 Myanmar workers both male and female rounded up from the vicinity of the crime scene and also their finger prints.

Why would anyone waste time and money taking DNA samples from any women in a murder rape case ?

As for the trousers being on the killer running off..... well................

Coz a woman can be part of the murder too.

Oh come on stop picking at straws its almost unheard of for women to be involved in a double murder rape.

You ever heard of process of elimination ? well usually you discount the least likely and look at the most likely first and try to narrow that down..... ie male you dont waste your time or funds with females until much later.

You only go and spend time on the least likely much later... id say its highly likely with at least 2 DNA its male and therefore much better to DNA all males, especially those not yet done with local knowledge, ie Thai local males...

almost unheard of for a woman to be involved in a double murder rape.

not in thailand it aint what about a WOM-MAN otherwise known as a lady-boy or kateoy.

[Tigerfish99]

Re: Migrant workers

If anyone reads the Skynews article about the new CCTV footage, it is interesting to note that:

DNA on a cigarette butt had earlier been matched to semen found on Miss Witheridge, and officers say the cigarette was smoked by more than one person.

The cigarettes found yards from the bodies have been identified as a little-known brand apparently favoured by migrant workers in the region.

I sincerely hope they find those responsible for this horrific crime as soon as possible.

[NongKhaiKid]

Does the negativity towards anything Thai and anything done by Thais never stop on Thaivisa??

Why is it a loss of face, to ask a better equiped policeforce for help?

Thousands of Thais are murdered every year, but because the victims this time are Brits, we expect the world to stop.

Don't misunderstand me, a very horrible crime, but why are white victims considered more valuable, and all stops need to be pulled to solve this particular case?

I am not being funny or insulting but have to ask how long you have been in Thailand / Asia otherwise you would understand face and worst of all losing it ?

[JeremyBowskill]

seen this video some days ago, I think it was on the daily mail site....

[Thaiready]

There is absolutely no loss of face for requesting assistance on DNA evidence. Latest generation Illumina sequencing equipment can sequence an entire human genome and extract a lot more information about a suspect than a match/no match testing which is quite common. The US has the most advanced sequencing equipment which takes about 24h to sequence a full human genome and it takes a lot of specialised computing power and knowledge to process that information which the US FBI has more than any other law enforcement agency.

Although I am also guilty of Thai bashing as I drive through the roads in this country I think many on TV take this a bit too far.

Lest you all forget that Thaialnd is a developing country and for any of us that have spent time in Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, etc. Thailand is miles ahead of these countries on innumerable fronts. Every country has its pluses and minuses but the reason most of us are still here is that there are a lot more pluses than minuses.

In my home country I can get hauled off to jail for driving with an expired license, whereas here we can take care of it for 200b. Do you expect to live in a militant nanny state and still enjoy the freedoms of Thailand?

It was a horrible crime and given the environment of Koh Tao, I believe the police are doing as good a job as we can reasonably expect. Do you think some back water US hick town of comparable development and population density would do any better??

ALL back water Hick towns in the US are miles ahead of even.....Bangkok

[SDM0712]

Does the negativity towards anything Thai and anything done by Thais never stop on Thaivisa?

In most cases it's not negativity towards Thais, but Thai incompetence, not really the same thing.

I'm really not sure when the Thais called in the FBI after finding the DNA but it should have been immediately. As I understand it the island is no longer locked down so the killer/s have almost certainly fled, and that assuming they didn't leave on a long tail boat during the lock down.

SDM

[BestBitterPhuket]

Finally seeking help from FBI. They should ask Scotland Yard for help too. They would help (for free) since we are talking about a murder of British citizens.

I believe that someone has forced the police too seek help from FBI. That is good! Even EU countries seek help from FBI and Scotland Yard when needed. Nothing to be ashamed about. That is called playing it smart.

[Maejo Man]

Skynews has a news story on CCTV footage taken in front of an ATM at 0127 showing David walking along in short pants and shaking hands with an Asian man wearing a shirt with 9 on the back and dark long pants. There is further CCTV footage at 0156 taken in front of a roti cart. They say they've handed the footage over to Thai police.

http://news.sky.com/story/1338593/thailand-cctv-of-british-man-killed-on-beach

How come a news team from the UK managed to get hold of this footage and the police didn't?

[finnomick]

Does the negativity towards anything Thai and anything done by Thais never stop on Thaivisa??

Why is it a loss of face, to ask a better equiped policeforce for help?

Thousands of Thais are murdered every year, but because the victims this time are Brits, we expect the world to stop.

Don't misunderstand me, a very horrible crime, but why are white victims considered more valuable, and all stops need to be pulled to solve this particular case?

Perhaps because we ' whites ' value life a whole lot more than the indigenous population.....

[KarenBravo]

but why are white victims considered more valuable, and all stops need to be pulled to solve this particular case?

Because they are tourists and their murder can have a huge impact on many, many peoples bottom line if tourists are put off coming to Thailand.

That doesn't happen if a Thai is murdered in Thailand.

Maybe not fair, but, that's the way of the world.

[timewilltell]

Meanwhile forensic police from Bangkok joined local forensic police in Surat Thani to collect DNA samples from more than 20 Myanmar workers both male and female rounded up from the vicinity of the crime scene and also their finger prints.

Why would anyone waste time and money taking DNA samples from any women in a murder rape case ?

As for the trousers being on the killer running off..... well................

Coz a woman can be part of the murder too.

Saying the killer ran off with the wrong pair of pants, ones of the victim is bizarre in itself. If you are saying the killer ran off with the girls shorts on by mistake ..., well I am gobsmacked!

Looks like the quotes got messed up as my response was to another response - can't delete this one so ignore.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Edited September 20, 2014 by timewilltell

[sweatalot]

Meanwhile forensic police from Bangkok joined local forensic police in Surat Thani to collect DNA samples from more than 20 Myanmar workers both male and female rounded up from the vicinity of the crime scene and also their finger prints.

Why would anyone waste time and money taking DNA samples from any women in a murder rape case ?

As for the trousers being on the killer running off..... well................

"Why would anyone waste time and money taking DNA samples from any women in a murder rape case ?"

and from any Thai man?

[affen02]

Does the negativity towards anything Thai and anything done by Thais never stop on Thaivisa??

Why is it a loss of face, to ask a better equiped policeforce for help?

Thousands of Thais are murdered every year, but because the victims this time are Brits, we expect the world to stop.

Don't misunderstand me, a very horrible crime, but why are white victims considered more valuable, and all stops need to be pulled to solve this particular case?

[crazykopite]

The whole thing is very disturbing the police seem to be grasping at straws it is now almost a week since this very tragic incident and yet they are no clearer all they know is that two British people were murdered and raped by persons unknown, they have had more than enough time to have swabbed every individual upwards of 11 years of age to see if they can get a DNA match ,no excuses the island is very small and as it is low season has not had that many tourists staying sadly on an island of this size you have hold a dozen policemen who have either no or very limited experience in handling such a case I would have imagined that any possible clues of vital evidence would have been destroyed within minutes of the discovery as Thais are very nosy people you have only got to see them come out of the woodwork when a motorbike accident has happened I fear that we may never know the killers of this horrendous crime they will be waiting to strike there next victims I for one will not be visiting the island whilst they are at large my thoughts are with the families who must be suffering every minute of the day i am sure someone out there knows who carried out these murders but for some reason does not have the courage to report them.

[sweatalot]

Some people, including myself, are wondering why on a small island that has a small population, with access by ferry or rent a boats that can be controlled the police are still floundering about.

Eliminate those under 10 years of age, eliminate those over 60 years of age, get people 11 to 59 to verify where they were at the time of the murder and whoever is in the remainder DNA test.

The pool of suspects should be in the dozens.

When I stayed at Koh Tao, there were hundreds on the island that met your excluded criteria.

In Germany they collected DNA in the thousands in a murder case

[shaurene]

The Thai police have to stop shouting out all this presumed evidence and camera evidence they should start keeping their mouths shut.

[metisdead]

A post containing anti junta comments has been removed.