Terrified Briton flees Koh Tao after 'mafia' death threat

[Iumentum]

Wow, there are a lot of cynics on this thread. To think that the people who live on Koh Tao want anything less than justice for the killers of these two people is mind-blowing. Keep in mind, we LIVE here and can't stand the thought that there are people living amongst who are capable of such an atrocity. We want these people caught for the families of the victims, for our own safety, and to a much lesser degree because we have built lives and businesses here and we will undoubtedly suffer from the negative attention.

All of the speculation and the actual reporting of this story in the media has been terribly insensitive and counter-productive. The owner of the resort was one of the first on the scene because he owns a business adjacent to it. Reports that he hasn't submitted a DNA test are false. He was one of the first to be tested.

Talk of a mafia-run island is also incorrect. Some of our local business people have more influence than others because they have more land, money, family interests, etc. These are the people that get elected into government on Koh Tao as well as in many other places in the world. We don't have any history of tourist murders on the island. Drugs are not as prevalent here as they are in many other places in Thailand, and all of the Full Moon party references apply to Koh Phangan, not Koh Tao.

Sean McAnna has not been here working as a barman for 18 months here. In fact, he only recently arrived. He spent some time here in the past and wasn't able to maintain employment anywhere for long on the island. He has been all over the place with his views of what happened. His first post since the tragedy occurred (since removed) was of how sad he was and that he was supposed to meet David Miller on the night of the murders, but he fell asleep in his bungalow. Now he somehow seems to have witnessed the killings and can ID the killers. And if he did witness the murders, why is he only just now speaking up? We have had literally hundreds of mainland police combing this island for a week. If he felt uncomfortable speaking about it because he feared for what would happen to him if he did, why not leave the island and contact the British Embassy who could then keep him safe while he spoke with police in Bangkok or even at home in the UK? Instead, he drunkenly walked into AC Bar at night, alone and made accusations against the owner. And why would he post such garbage on Facebook instead of speaking to the authorities? These are just a few of the reasons that we question his mental state. He seems to be quite illogical in his actions and more than a little bit disturbed. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs and the authorities will get back to searching for the killers...

Where do you get that he claim to have witness the killings? Can you please provide a source for that?

If you cannot do so, then why would anyone believe anything else that you state in your comment to be correct?

[mataleo]

as there is no bkk posts allowed, google - Koh Tao murders: Breakthrough?

Police are sounding increasingly confident of detaining those responsible for killing two British tourists on Koh Tao. Whether or not the suspects include the two aggressive men photographed by a Scottish tourist remains to be seen.

Edited September 23, 2014 by mataleo

[rbkk]

Could the guy in the black t-shirt and his mate are undercover police? That's why they don't need to give a DNA sample as it is already on record?

[mataleo]

they will pin it on man from cave

[The manic]

So he was working illegally - doing a job a Thai could do - He has worked there for a year but can not tell the police the names of the men who threatened him or where they hang out. He sounds like he has smoked Paranoia Grass recently. He won't be the first to go mad out on the Islands.

[Fred Flinstone]

I can see this guy in world view explaining his 7/11 shot and blaming Thais who will have 8000 witnesses for the timeline.

It will be revealed the westerner accuser has alcohol /drug issues and mysteriously reappeared that night .(which they were murdered)

The Thais must be rubbing their hands over this

Patsy comes to town

*(or culprit sets himself up)

Edited September 23, 2014 by Fred Flinstone

[Wilsonandson]

I am starting to have my doubts about Sean's accusations too. Take a look at this video of him singing with his guitar, seems like a wacky guy to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNSKUvkPHYo&feature=player_embedded

[The manic]

I am not really sure how 'people who live on Koh Tao' who are not Thai do so legally. Surely you are just tourists and beach bums who have wangled a dodgy visa. As for mafia not being mafia- people and families of influence who run the local government and businesses...............yes the Mafia..............Who, when they want can act with impunity even fixing it so Foreigners can live on the Island illegally and claim to represent the people who live there..

[HughJass]

there is so much corruption what is stopping the police tampering with the DNA recovered from the scene to fit the patsy migrant workers DNA

[starkey_rich]

I just wish we could influence other TV members & holidaymakers to boycott this hellish place.

Do you mean Thailand or Koh Tao?

[Fat Haggis]

Wow, there are a lot of cynics on this thread. To think that the people who live on Koh Tao want anything less than justice for the killers of these two people is mind-blowing. Keep in mind, we LIVE here and can't stand the thought that there are people living amongst who are capable of such an atrocity. We want these people caught for the families of the victims, for our own safety, and to a much lesser degree because we have built lives and businesses here and we will undoubtedly suffer from the negative attention.

All of the speculation and the actual reporting of this story in the media has been terribly insensitive and counter-productive. The owner of the resort was one of the first on the scene because he owns a business adjacent to it. Reports that he hasn't submitted a DNA test are false. He was one of the first to be tested.

Talk of a mafia-run island is also incorrect. Some of our local business people have more influence than others because they have more land, money, family interests, etc. These are the people that get elected into government on Koh Tao as well as in many other places in the world. We don't have any history of tourist murders on the island. Drugs are not as prevalent here as they are in many other places in Thailand, and all of the Full Moon party references apply to Koh Phangan, not Koh Tao.

Sean McAnna has not been here working as a barman for 18 months here. In fact, he only recently arrived. He spent some time here in the past and wasn't able to maintain employment anywhere for long on the island. He has been all over the place with his views of what happened. His first post since the tragedy occurred (since removed) was of how sad he was and that he was supposed to meet David Miller on the night of the murders, but he fell asleep in his bungalow. Now he somehow seems to have witnessed the killings and can ID the killers. And if he did witness the murders, why is he only just now speaking up? We have had literally hundreds of mainland police combing this island for a week. If he felt uncomfortable speaking about it because he feared for what would happen to him if he did, why not leave the island and contact the British Embassy who could then keep him safe while he spoke with police in Bangkok or even at home in the UK? Instead, he drunkenly walked into AC Bar at night, alone and made accusations against the owner. And why would he post such garbage on Facebook instead of speaking to the authorities? These are just a few of the reasons that we question his mental state. He seems to be quite illogical in his actions and more than a little bit disturbed. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs and the authorities will get back to searching for the killers...

A complete contradiction to what a couple of other posters said about Kho Tao, so those who don't live there, or have ever been there either, who's account of Island life is more accurate? Two opposite contrasts and opinions ? Actually there's been more ex Islanders critical of the Koh Tao set up than those saying it's a Eutopia?

The fact you've downplayed any local Mafia involvement is very interesting, and again not what other former KT residents have said. You know this for a fact because?

Denial that there's little drugs as well, again, you know this because?

I would suspect that you're this Klaus guy from the twitter feeds.

He never said he witnessed the murders either, try reading what he said, he made an accusation that the owner of the AC club did it, founded or unfounded, the leads need to be followed up.

The mince you have said about the guy standing with the police surveying a murder scene because he owned the location behind them just beggers belief, in that the cops just let him into a crime scene area, and you wonder why people have little faith in the RTP ever getting to the bottom of this story?? He should not have been there FULL STOP!! The crime scene was heavily contaminated as the police failed to cordon off and preserve any evidence or what was left of it.

If you had read, and knew Sean McAnna, it stated that he HAD been there previously for 18 months, and that's a long time to spend on an Island, with no work, yet you said he couldn't hold down a job? He seems to have done just fine to have enabled him to survive there for 18 months.. from the way you're writing, it seems you actualy know him personally?

You may well be telling the truth, but either you're the one who's less than forthcoming with the truth about Koh Tao, or the other posters are.. and therein lies a problem, how does an outsider trying to make head nor tail of this, know which party's version of Island Life is the accurate one?

[lazygourmet]

I just wish we could influence other TV members & holidaymakers to boycott this hellish place.

Do you mean Thailand or Koh Tao?

ThaiVisa... Just Methinks!!

[mataleo]

Island killings prompt stiffer worker rules

article on bkk post

[JarekN]

So (if not already) maybe the site should be hosted outside of TH so the BS rules would not have to apply and people could talk in the open???

To all the 'experts' who have lived on the island or are still living on the island - who claim to know who the 'Big Families' are, are: Why don't you share your intimate knowledge with everyone? What are their names? Who are the crazy rich kids?

Who are the Bar owners? Who are the corrupt police?

Leave the island and tell all. If you are already in another country - tell us.

Here on this site? The press? The Thai Military? The Police?

So many people have already said that they know what goes on there because they have lived there.

But, - no one talks. Interesting. Yet you accuse the Thais of not talking.

If this is all supposed 'common knowledge', - then time to speak up!

How long have you been on this site?

TV doesn't allow the naming of names due to Thailand's ridiculous defamation laws. I thought everyone knew that. It's in the rules.

[aTomsLife]

I am starting to have my doubts about Sean's accusations too. Take a look at this video of him singing with his guitar, seems like a wacky guy to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNSKUvkPHYo&feature=player_embedded

Are you for real?

He's performing a Pixies cover, and pretty well too, I think.

[Iumentum]

Wow, there are a lot of cynics on this thread. To think that the people who live on Koh Tao want anything less than justice for the killers of these two people is mind-blowing. Keep in mind, we LIVE here and can't stand the thought that there are people living amongst who are capable of such an atrocity. We want these people caught for the families of the victims, for our own safety, and to a much lesser degree because we have built lives and businesses here and we will undoubtedly suffer from the negative attention.

All of the speculation and the actual reporting of this story in the media has been terribly insensitive and counter-productive. The owner of the resort was one of the first on the scene because he owns a business adjacent to it. Reports that he hasn't submitted a DNA test are false. He was one of the first to be tested.

Talk of a mafia-run island is also incorrect. Some of our local business people have more influence than others because they have more land, money, family interests, etc. These are the people that get elected into government on Koh Tao as well as in many other places in the world. We don't have any history of tourist murders on the island. Drugs are not as prevalent here as they are in many other places in Thailand, and all of the Full Moon party references apply to Koh Phangan, not Koh Tao.

Sean McAnna has not been here working as a barman for 18 months here. In fact, he only recently arrived. He spent some time here in the past and wasn't able to maintain employment anywhere for long on the island. He has been all over the place with his views of what happened. His first post since the tragedy occurred (since removed) was of how sad he was and that he was supposed to meet David Miller on the night of the murders, but he fell asleep in his bungalow. Now he somehow seems to have witnessed the killings and can ID the killers. And if he did witness the murders, why is he only just now speaking up? We have had literally hundreds of mainland police combing this island for a week. If he felt uncomfortable speaking about it because he feared for what would happen to him if he did, why not leave the island and contact the British Embassy who could then keep him safe while he spoke with police in Bangkok or even at home in the UK? Instead, he drunkenly walked into AC Bar at night, alone and made accusations against the owner. And why would he post such garbage on Facebook instead of speaking to the authorities? These are just a few of the reasons that we question his mental state. He seems to be quite illogical in his actions and more than a little bit disturbed. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs and the authorities will get back to searching for the killers...

A complete contradiction to what a couple of other posters said about Kho Tao, so those who don't live there, or have ever been there either, who's account of Island life is more accurate? Two opposite contrasts and opinions ? Actually there's been more ex Islanders critical of the Koh Tao set up than those saying it's a Eutopia?

The fact you've downplayed any local Mafia involvement is very interesting, and again not what other former KT residents have said. You know this for a fact because?

Denial that there's little drugs as well, again, you know this because?

I would suspect that you're this Klaus guy from the twitter feeds.

He never said he witnessed the murders either, try reading what he said, he made an accusation that the owner of the AC club did it, founded or unfounded, the leads need to be followed up.

The mince you have said about the guy standing with the police surveying a murder scene because he owned the location behind them just beggers belief, in that the cops just let him into a crime scene area, and you wonder why people have little faith in the RTP ever getting to the bottom of this story?? He should not have been there FULL STOP!! The crime scene was heavily contaminated as the police failed to cordon off and preserve any evidence or what was left of it.

If you had read, and knew Sean McAnna, it stated that he HAD been there previously for 18 months, and that's a long time to spend on an Island, with no work, yet you said he couldn't hold down a job? He seems to have done just fine to have enabled him to survive there for 18 months.. from the way you're writing, it seems you actualy know him personally?

You may well be telling the truth, but either you're the one who's less than forthcoming with the truth about Koh Tao, or the other posters are.. and therein lies a problem, how does an outsider trying to make head nor tail of this, know which party's version of Island Life is the accurate one?

For me it sure seem that this poster is just babbling. New profile just created to join the debate, it made me think it was PLUTO returning to debate from a new "insider" angle.

For me the whole post he made lost credit when he stated that Sean claim to have witness the murders, because i haven't read that anywhere and i still didn't get the source link i asked for.

Sean might be making up a BS story with this whole incident, but seem to me that KTVIEW is full of it too.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Iumentum

[mojorison]

Wow, there are a lot of cynics on this thread. To think that the people who live on Koh Tao want anything less than justice for the killers of these two people is mind-blowing. Keep in mind, we LIVE here and can't stand the thought that there are people living amongst who are capable of such an atrocity. We want these people caught for the families of the victims, for our own safety, and to a much lesser degree because we have built lives and businesses here and we will undoubtedly suffer from the negative attention.

All of the speculation and the actual reporting of this story in the media has been terribly insensitive and counter-productive. The owner of the resort was one of the first on the scene because he owns a business adjacent to it. Reports that he hasn't submitted a DNA test are false. He was one of the first to be tested.

Talk of a mafia-run island is also incorrect. Some of our local business people have more influence than others because they have more land, money, family interests, etc. These are the people that get elected into government on Koh Tao as well as in many other places in the world. We don't have any history of tourist murders on the island. Drugs are not as prevalent here as they are in many other places in Thailand, and all of the Full Moon party references apply to Koh Phangan, not Koh Tao.

Sean McAnna has not been here working as a barman for 18 months here. In fact, he only recently arrived. He spent some time here in the past and wasn't able to maintain employment anywhere for long on the island. He has been all over the place with his views of what happened. His first post since the tragedy occurred (since removed) was of how sad he was and that he was supposed to meet David Miller on the night of the murders, but he fell asleep in his bungalow. Now he somehow seems to have witnessed the killings and can ID the killers. And if he did witness the murders, why is he only just now speaking up? We have had literally hundreds of mainland police combing this island for a week. If he felt uncomfortable speaking about it because he feared for what would happen to him if he did, why not leave the island and contact the British Embassy who could then keep him safe while he spoke with police in Bangkok or even at home in the UK? Instead, he drunkenly walked into AC Bar at night, alone and made accusations against the owner. And why would he post such garbage on Facebook instead of speaking to the authorities? These are just a few of the reasons that we question his mental state. He seems to be quite illogical in his actions and more than a little bit disturbed. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs and the authorities will get back to searching for the killers...

A complete contradiction to what a couple of other posters said about Kho Tao, so those who don't live there, or have ever been there either, who's account of Island life is more accurate? Two opposite contrasts and opinions ? Actually there's been more ex Islanders critical of the Koh Tao set up than those saying it's a Eutopia?

The fact you've downplayed any local Mafia involvement is very interesting, and again not what other former KT residents have said. You know this for a fact because?

Denial that there's little drugs as well, again, you know this because?

I would suspect that you're this Klaus guy from the twitter feeds.

He never said he witnessed the murders either, try reading what he said, he made an accusation that the owner of the AC club did it, founded or unfounded, the leads need to be followed up.

The mince you have said about the guy standing with the police surveying a murder scene because he owned the location behind them just beggers belief, in that the cops just let him into a crime scene area, and you wonder why people have little faith in the RTP ever getting to the bottom of this story?? He should not have been there FULL STOP!! The crime scene was heavily contaminated as the police failed to cordon off and preserve any evidence or what was left of it.

If you had read, and knew Sean McAnna, it stated that he HAD been there previously for 18 months, and that's a long time to spend on an Island, with no work, yet you said he couldn't hold down a job? He seems to have done just fine to have enabled him to survive there for 18 months.. from the way you're writing, it seems you actualy know him personally?

You may well be telling the truth, but either you're the one who's less than forthcoming with the truth about Koh Tao, or the other posters are.. and therein lies a problem, how does an outsider trying to make head nor tail of this, know which party's version of Island Life is the accurate one?

KTVIEW is toeing the party line. What they say is schtick...propaganda, pretty well written, but obviously dictated.

[steven100]

This really is getting more confusing by the minute ......

[Fred Flinstone]

I am pretty sure if there were names -

They could be said without any consequence in this online age.

Its now seriously looking like Thais will arrest those the westerner accused.

Brought to trial lets hope he *westerner) can explain his whereabouts that night.

As he returned the day they died.

Or hope the judge understands the chilling out stunt in a 7/11 freezer .

And passes drug tests

Edited September 23, 2014 by Fred Flinstone

[StevieH]

"A prominent island businessman just unexpectedly arrived at police HQ to speak to officers. Has caused excitement for Thai film crews." @andylines

[Iumentum]

"A prominent island businessman just unexpectedly arrived at police HQ to speak to officers. Has caused excitement for Thai film crews." @andylines

And another:

"Another business figure on the island has now arrived. Both are significant employers in the tourism industry on Koh Tao." @andylines

[PattayaPhom]

Attention seeking <deleted>. Worse is trying to catapult his dreams of fame at the expense of the death of the victims

[culicine]

So he was working illegally - doing a job a Thai could do - He has worked there for a year but can not tell the police the names of the men who threatened him or where they hang out. He sounds like he has smoked Paranoia Grass recently. He won't be the first to go mad out on the Islands.

Think those guys (boat people), just got cleared....see the sidebar at right. There was a short message about that not long ago.

edit: sorry, misquote.

Edited September 23, 2014 by culicine

[uptheos]

Great thinking

Wherever, allow 'anything goes speech' against Thailand and the government would close access to it in a heartbeat!

So (if not already) maybe the site should be hosted outside of TH so the BS rules would not have to apply and people could talk in the open???

To all the 'experts' who have lived on the island or are still living on the island - who claim to know who the 'Big Families' are, are: Why don't you share your intimate knowledge with everyone? What are their names? Who are the crazy rich kids?

Who are the Bar owners? Who are the corrupt police?

Leave the island and tell all. If you are already in another country - tell us.

Here on this site? The press? The Thai Military? The Police?

So many people have already said that they know what goes on there because they have lived there.

But, - no one talks. Interesting. Yet you accuse the Thais of not talking.

If this is all supposed 'common knowledge', - then time to speak up!

How long have you been on this site?

TV doesn't allow the naming of names due to Thailand's ridiculous defamation laws. I thought everyone knew that. It's in the rules.

[Udoth]

This is almost like a movie, I don't understand why they don't get rid of mafia now they have the chance with the coop. Police or military from outside Koh Tao should solve this problem if this story about the guy being threatened by them is true.

[Iumentum]

Attention seeking <deleted>. Worse is trying to catapult his dreams of fame at the expense of the death of the victims

Another jump to conclusion mat fan who will totally dismiss the possibility of this incident.

You try to make Sean look as if he is doing a very repulsive thing, without knowing any facts if he did or not. But what is really repulsive here, is guys like you who totally dismiss the possibility, instead of being objective and hope that this might actually help the investigation, so the murder victims can rest in peace and relatives can at least be able to see justice.

Shame on you!

Edited September 23, 2014 by Iumentum

[tifino]

it is a wonder he'd survive the escape, even under Police protection - everyone has a $ (tb) limit that overrides scruples.

lucky he didn't try to escape on a Jetski - mafia controlled too!

[Runamile]

Who knows the truth of what McAnna is saying. It's logical. His suicide could have produced early closure. Equally, his timelines seem wrong. At face value, they were discussing the murder, before anybody knew about a murder.

The media have talked about a wall of silence on Koh Tao, meaning a Thai wall of silence. I'm minded to believe that there's a foreigner wall of silence, too. Nobody seems to know anything. Why did David Miller's friends want to leg it so quickly off Koh Tao, what do they know, if only of background events, that evening, or, indeed, per longer period of time, for instance that week. Were they, also, threatened by Thai Mafiosi, to keep quiet about every last detail?

As to Hannah Witheridge's friends, we have heard nothing. They must know her movements that week, that night, etc. Whether she had complained about having been "chatted", etc.

What of people in general staying in the same resort and/or frequenting the same bars?

There's a huge need for a competent police force to follow up all the foreigners, who, maybe, have their own wall of silence, their own fearfulness, as well as Thais.

[chiang mai]

Once safely back home in his parents house in Scotland, the subject sold his story to various newspapers, wrote a book, made a couple of embarrassing speaking appearances in nearby pubs and subsequently died a tragically young death. The Coroner recorded an open verdict although in his closing statements he did make reference to the vast amounts of illegal substances found nearby!

Next.

[ParadiseLost]

As hard as I try not to join the hysterical outpouring of conjecture, I am a little confused regarding the timing of this person's testimony: unless I am mistaken he would have known about a murder before anyone else, other than his 'assailants'.

The bodies were only discovered in the morning, but he was yelling and shouting about it at 4am? Nobody finds it strange that he is claiming that they wanted to frame him for a murder nobody knew had happened?

My guess is a bad mushroom trip and an overactive imagination. He did have a run in with the locals but not how he describes...