Thailand beach murders: Police defend bizarre public 'reconstruction' of slayings by suspects

[Lite Beer]

Thailand beach murders: Police defend bizarre public 'reconstruction' of slayings by suspects
By Andy Lines

KOH TAO: -- Two Burmese migrants who have allegedly 'confessed' to the crimes have been taken to the beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found

Two Burmese migrants today took part in a chaotic, bizarre reconstruction of how they allegedly killed Brit backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.

Amid extraordinary scenes on a beach in Thailand the men showed little emotion as they demonstrated the method they are alleged to have used to bludgeon the pair.

Wearing flak jackets and motorcycle helmets to protect them from possible attack, the handcuffed duo – identified only as Saw and Wyn – walked on to the sands of Koh Tao island.

One used a long-handled dustpan to show how he allegedly rained blows on Hannah with a hoe. Police say the pair have signed confessions to the killings.

And they claim DNA links both men to 23-year-old Hannah who was raped.

But tonight friends of the accused claimed they had been rounded up by police and tortured with boiling water to implicate Saw, Wyn and a third man in the killing.

Today’s re-enactment was greeted with dismay around the world.

A tourist was chosen to play 24-year-old David while a female TV journalist took the role of Hannah.

As well as the media, hundreds of locals came to watch.

Read More: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/thailand-beach-murders-police-defend-4374673

--Mirror Online 2014-10-04

[Anthony5]

Today’s re-enactment was greeted with dismay around the world.

A tourist was chosen to play 24-year-old David while a female TV journalist took the role of Hannah.

Maybe it was actually the first soap rewritten by the good general, returning happiness to the Thai people

[Costas2008]

They made it a show, unknowingly to the dismay of all the world.

But that's how their minds work.

Just get somebody that is not Thai to get rid of these pesky foreigners bothering us to solve the murder.

I am a father also, and I feel deeply for the parents of the girl and the boy and I would never rest till the real murderers are found.

I don't believe a word of what the Thai police is saying.

[NeverSure]

Disgusting frame up.

BTW those aren't jackets, they are vests. They look like level IIIA (iiiA, pronounced "3A") and they won't stop a rifle bullet or the bigger handgun rounds.

LEVEL IIIA

[Patje]

And once again : Thailand it starts with the people ......

They never cease to amaze me !!

[ChiangMaiThai]

Please, can a real journalist look into a few basic questions and publish in a major newspaper?

1. Is it true that the victim's phone was handed over to police by her friend the day after the murder? Is this is same phone the police claim was found behind the room belonging to the suspects?

2. Since the suspects worked at the very same bar that the victims were at that night, and since they didn't flee, how is it possible that the initial blanket DNA tests did not find a match?!?

3. Is it true that relatives of prominent families on the island were exempted from giving DNA? If so, why? What law requires poor people to give DNA, but excuses rich people.

I know there are many, many more unanswered questions, but these stand out for me.

I would happily donate to a legal fund for defense for these guys. Perhaps an NGO can set that up here?

[JenniferSG]

The Sky News reporter who stepped in to her own story should be ashamed of herself.

[eeworldwide]

Never mind boiling water - this whole farcical debacle makes my blood boil.

There is SO much evidence to suggest that these 2 migrant workers are NOT the killers, that I'm surprised that some international agency hasn't stepped in to set this to rights.

However - the DNA samples will have been tampered with by now - there's probably no real way of getting things verified properly.

Oh God in heaven above - please bring justice to this case - expose the truth and in the process, please help Thailand to WAKE THE HECK UP!!!!!!!!!!

If you commit a crime, you must pay the consequences. You may think you can escape scot-free right now - but believe you me, it will always come around in the end.

But hey - the Thai's know that, right?

They're Buddhist, so they must. They live by the laws of Karma, which they believe in stoically, right?

Someone? Anyone? Please tell me I'm right??!

[yougivemebaby]

If this is proven to be a set up then I think the world will shame Thailand to the point that no one will want to go there.

[ratcatcher]

Disgusting frame up.

BTW those aren't jackets, they are vests. They look like level IIIA (iiiA, pronounced "3A") and they won't stop a rifle bullet or the bigger handgun rounds.

LEVEL IIIA

NeverSure, the vests are merely props in this theater of the absurd. Perhaps a movie will follow.

[taony]

The are always vile disgusting shows that do nothing for the pursuit of justice.

Unfortunately, the police thought yesterday's show was a display of wonderful abilities and don't even realize how it makes everyone else want to vomit.

[lildragon]

They always do these 'reenactments' with murder cases. It is totally normal here but they showed complete lack of self awareness by doing one for such a sesntive and internationally scrutinized case.

Not even most Thais are fooled by this. It is unbelievable.

[fritzzz25]

This story is so full of bovine excrement that the rice paddies will be fertile for the next 12 centuries.

[eeworldwide]

Ah well -at least the General as the PM has seen through the farce and... has... um.... erm.. well - you know... he's..... ahem.... cough..... rewarded the police on their solving the crime..

So - hey now!! hey people!! Leave them cops alone!!

They ain't done nothin' wrong! They've worked really really hard - gone above and beyond their call of duty!

Let's give them 15 minutes in the crystal dome!

Catch as many gold tickets as you can boys!

Well bloody done!

[kalbo123]

Instead of clearing the killings the longer it takes the more bizarre it gets.

I wonder if those boys will get any help from any organization like Amnesty international or something.

[daiwill60]

The Sky News reporter who stepped in to her own story should be ashamed of herself.

Can you provide a link to that please

[Tywais]

Please, can a real journalist look into a few basic questions and publish in a major newspaper?

1. Is it true that the victim's phone was handed over to police by her friend the day after the murder? Is this is same phone the police claim was found behind the room belonging to the suspects?

4. Why is the hoe in a different position and hidden then the original one which was propped against a fence taken the day of the murders?

[kaobang]

what is this?

https://twitter.com/cm_mcv/status/518079919801110529?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=worrarit&utm_content=518246232456560640

[Tywais]

However - the DNA samples will have been tampered with by now - there's probably no real way of getting things verified properly.

The only solid way is if there was a forensic examination of Hanna back in Britain and DNA recovered and send a team over to personally take DNA samples from the accused for comparison. Odds pretty low of that being allowed I suspect.

[eeworldwide]

Proverbs 24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Evil men will be rewarded, one way or the other. God will reward wicked men with grief, pain, and death. He will cut their lives off and send their souls down to eternal torment.

This verse is the second half of a proverb. Here is the first half: “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked” (Pr 24:19). You should not worry or be jealous watching evil men prosper; God will not allow them to have a good ending.

When Solomon wrote here that an evil man will have no reward, he meant a good reward; he meant blessing and favor from heaven. God will not reward evil men with such good things – He will reward them with punishment to painfully destroy them, as stated in the last clause. God will put out their candle: He will end their wicked lives.

[Tywais]

Post with link to Bangkok Post removed.

26) The Bangkok Post and Phuketwan do not allow quotes from their news articles or other material to appear on Thaivisa.com. Neither do they allow links to their publications. Posts from members containing quotes from or links to Bangkok Post or Phuketwan publications will be deleted from the forum.

[ChiangMaiThai]

what is this?

https://twitter.com/cm_mcv/status/518079919801110529?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=worrarit&utm_content=518246232456560640

I saw this and it looks like the exact same phone. So is this the same phone that the police claim they found behind the suspect's room?

If so, I would plead with the woman in the picture to write an open letter to all the major UK newspapers and the British embassy. Not sure if there is a point to write to the Thai newspapers as they either have no ability for critical thinking or are too far deep into this twisted system of money and power where the truth is flexible.

And seriously, has a single Thai journalist asked any of these difficult questions to the police in public on camera? If so, I haven't see it. If not, this country is so f$&ked up in so many ways.

Edited October 4, 2014 by ChiangMaiThai

[JLCrab]

I have not closely followed the details of this case. It does make reasonable sense to me that a couple of poorly paid immigrant workers -- who maybe have gone without sex for weeks or months or more -- could be on the beach at 4 AM drunk and/or doing drugs and could be sent into a frenzy when they realize two farangs are having sex on the beach close to them with the resultant outcome. It does not make much sense to me that a wealthy Thai scion of the local bigwigs who can get laid any time he wants would have a similar reaction if he stumbles upon the same couple under the same circumstances.

... unless there was some scenario that the girl had been propositioned earlier by a wealthy Thai and refused with the resultant outcome but I don't think applies.

Edited October 4, 2014 by JLCrab

[ChiangMaiThai]

I have not closely followed the details of this case. It does make reasonable sense to me that a couple of poorly paid immigrant workers -- who maybe have gone without sex for weeks or months or more -- could be on the beach at 4 AM drunk and/or doing drugs and could be sent into a frenzy when they realize two farangs are having sex on the beach close to them with the resultant outcome. It does not make much sense to me that a wealthy Thai scion of the local bigwigs who can get laid any time he wants would have a similar reaction if he stumbles upon the same couple under the same circumstances.

You're completing missing the point. Have you ever seen a Thai man's reaction to a little loss of face? Especially a wealthy and self entitled Thai man? Especially in the South.

Look at the horrific pictures. It wasn't about sex. It was about horrible emotions of insane violence.

[JLCrab]

I have not closely followed the details of this case. It does make reasonable sense to me that a couple of poorly paid immigrant workers -- who maybe have gone without sex for weeks or months or more -- could be on the beach at 4 AM drunk and/or doing drugs and could be sent into a frenzy when they realize two farangs are having sex on the beach close to them with the resultant outcome. It does not make much sense to me that a wealthy Thai scion of the local bigwigs who can get laid any time he wants would have a similar reaction if he stumbles upon the same couple under the same circumstances.

You're completing missing the point. Have you ever seen a Thai man's reaction to a little loss of face? Especially a wealthy and self entitled Thai man? Especially in the South.

Look at the horrific pictures. It wasn't about sex. It was about horrible emotions of insane violence.

As I said I am not aware that scenario has been established.

[lildragon]

I have not closely followed the details of this case. It does make reasonable sense to me that a couple of poorly paid immigrant workers -- who maybe have gone without sex for weeks or months or more -- could be on the beach at 4 AM drunk and/or doing drugs and could be sent into a frenzy when they realize two farangs are having sex on the beach close to them with the resultant outcome. It does not make much sense to me that a wealthy Thai scion of the local bigwigs who can get laid any time he wants would have a similar reaction if he stumbles upon the same couple under the same circumstances.

... unless there was some scenario that the girl had been propositioned earlier by a wealthy Thai and refused with the resultant outcome but I don't think applies.

Your second reasoning. It makes perfect sense that a high so rich kid that is used to getting laid whenever he wants DOES go into a frenzy when this girl rejects his advances and is then stood up for buy another man. His face has been broken in public and he's no doubt fond of booze and drugs himself.

[chrisinth]

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Never mind boiling water - this whole farcical debacle makes my blood boil.

There is SO much evidence to suggest that these 2 migrant workers are NOT the killers, that I'm surprised that some international agency hasn't stepped in to set this to rights.

However - the DNA samples will have been tampered with by now - there's probably no real way of getting things verified properly.

Oh God in heaven above - please bring justice to this case - expose the truth and in the process, please help Thailand to WAKE THE HECK UP!!!!!!!!!!

If you commit a crime, you must pay the consequences. You may think you can escape scot-free right now - but believe you me, it will always come around in the end.

But hey - the Thai's know that, right?

They're Buddhist, so they must. They live by the laws of Karma, which they believe in stoically, right?

Someone? Anyone? Please tell me I'm right??!

You could be right, it is really easy to tamper with DNA samples. Especially when the original ones exist outside the country.

I wish some people would think before they write this stuff.

[Lite Beer]

https://twitter.com/cm_mcv/status/518079919801110529?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=worrarit&utm_content=518246232456560640

[JLCrab]

Just to note that the NGO that is questioning the arrests of the Burmese immigrants is better referred to for search purposes as CrCF not CCF.

Edited October 4, 2014 by JLCrab

[Tatsujin]

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