Koh Tao murder report to go to prosecutors this week: police

[webfact]

BRITISH TOURISTS' KILLINGS
Koh Tao murder report to go to prosecutors this week: police
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police plan to forward their investigation report on the killing of two British tourists on Koh Tao to public prosecutors this Wednesday.

"We will include DNA test results related to the suspects in our report for the prosecution," Koh Pha-Ngan Police Station's superintendent Colonel Prachum Ruangthong said yesterday.

His police station has jurisdiction over not just Koh Pha-Ngan but also Koh Tao, where the lifeless bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on the morning of September 15. Semen of two men was found inside the female victim's body, it has been alleged .

Prachum said the DNA test results had nailed down two Myanmar workers on the tourist island, dismissing rumours the two-recently-arrested suspects were scapegoats. "There is solid evidence against them. They are not scapegoats,"

Surat Thani police chief Maj General Apichart Boonsriroj said police had thoroughly investigated this high-profile case.

"As I have joined the investigation, I can assure you the suspects are real culprits," he said. He spoke in response to widespread doubts as to whether police had arrested the two as scapegoats in the hope of ending the case, which had put authorities under huge pressure.

British Ambassador Mark Kent sought a meeting with Thai police chief last week prior to the arrest of the suspects.

An informed source yesterday disclosed that some international organisations had already contacted Thailand's Rights and Liberties Protection Department as they wished to provide the two Myanmar suspects with lawyers.

"These organisations don't believe these two Myanmar men committed the crimes," the source said.

In a bid to clear up confusing reports related to a cell-phone believed linked to the case, Prachum said the iPhone that was retrieved from the suspects belonged to Miller.

"The cell-phone of Witheridge was returned to her family on September 18," Prachum said.

Some reports incorrectly said the cell-phone found near the suspects' living quarters belonged to Witheridge, one reason the scapegoat story had gained momentum.

Foreign news outlets have noted the suspects' lack of legal representation and questioned the Thai police methods of interrogation. Andrew Drummond, a freelance reporter based in Bangkok, said: "A statement from the Burmese community on the island claimed that three friends of Win and Saw, the accused, were tortured by Thai police, who beat them physically and poured boiling water over them," he reported on his website.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Koh-Tao-murder-report-to-go-to-prosecutors-this-we-30244820.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-06

[MJP]

It's okay. Let British police take DNA from the suspects and compare it to DNA evidence found on the victims. This will confirm Thai police findings and clear up all this doubt.

Surely the Thai police would welcome such involvement?

[andygunther]

I guess we will get the answer very soon....

[JLCrab]

"Everybody wants ta get inta da act!" -- Jimmy Durante (1949)

[JLCrab]

AD was mentioned directly in a The Nation newspaper article.

[JohnThailandJohn]

300 DNA collections later and like it or not it appears they found the killers and the investigation is now wrapping up.

[NongKhaiKid]

It's okay. Let British police take DNA from the suspects and compare it to DNA evidence found on the victims. This will confirm Thai police findings and clear up all this doubt.

Surely the Thai police would welcome such involvement?

I'm not sure about the BIB welcoming outside involvement.

It's loss of face at the best of times and now with all the doubts and adverse comment being expressed it would seem they have been forced into it which is even bigger loss of face.

Finally, if they been tampering with or arranging evidence in any way they don't want outsiders finding out since they will report accurately and have nothing to do with any fit up.

[JohnThailandJohn]

While the BIB may not have the greatest reputation around neither does Drummond. Looks like he will be fleeing Thailand very soon and can only hope that will mean an end to his personal investigative stories of people he is in legal battles with. At one time the guy had some relevance. He used to be an active poster here too but appears he has wore at his welcome on TV too.

[jaidam]

300 DNA collections later and like it or not it appears they found the killers and the investigation is now wrapping up.

Only able to check migrant workers dna. Can't check any local Thai dna, its against their human rights.

It is your right to cheer the arrest of the 2 Burmese kids. It is my right to ask for the many remaining questions to be answered.

[JohnThailandJohn]

It's okay. Let British police take DNA from the suspects and compare it to DNA evidence found on the victims. This will confirm Thai police findings and clear up all this doubt.

Surely the Thai police would welcome such involvement?

I'm not sure about the BIB welcoming outside involvement.

It's loss of face at the best of times and now with all the doubts and adverse comment being expressed it would seem they have been forced into it which is even bigger loss of face.

Finally, if they been tampering with or arranging evidence in any way they don't want outsiders finding out since they will report accurately and have nothing to do with any fit up.

An NGO sent them lawyers. The lawyers will be able to get new samples of DNA from them. No country is going to let another country step into their criminal investigation and no country would demand to. If the police were so concerned with loss of face they would not have needed to announce they needed to send the original DNA from the scene to Singapore to be able to identify race due to the DNA testing limitations here.

If the UK wanted to hire them lawyers they could do that but that to is not going to happen and if I recall correctly the British Ambassador, whose office has been more involved than those on the internet, believes the police have the right suspects. The UK can make requests but can guarantee you they won't make a request to recheck these two's DNA as that is for the legal process here in Thailand to handle.

[JohnThailandJohn]

300 DNA collections later and like it or not it appears they found the killers and the investigation is now wrapping up.

Only able to check migrant workers dna. Can't check any local Thai dna, its against their human rights.

It is your right to cheer the arrest of the 2 Burmese kids. It is my right to ask for the many remaining questions to be answered.

You can say things that are utterly baseless but it doesn't make them true nor does it help anyone find the truth and in this case it just makes you trying to spread false information that other less informed people may believe.

[slipperx]

While the BIB may not have the greatest reputation around neither does Drummond. Looks like he will be fleeing Thailand very soon and can only hope that will mean an end to his personal investigative stories of people he is in legal battles with. At one time the guy had some relevance. He used to be an active poster here too but appears he has wore at his welcome on TV too.

Comparing the corrupt and incompetent RTP, with Andrew Drummond who is having the legal system with all its holes used against him in multiple cases with dodgy lawyers who are abiding the system in an attempt to bankrupt him is just plain stupid.

I do not know Andrew Drummond but since I am going through the same experience with cheating lawyers and two thieving mafia gangs I can tell you it is not pleasant.

I understand that Drummond was writing about other cheating foreigners but why anyone thinks that is a bad thing I don't know. He did stick his head over the parapet but many are just targeted for criminal gain and the failings of the legal and court system here are very well understood by these criminals who use every loophole to their advantage and your destruction.

I hope you are never targeted!

[slipperx]

300 DNA collections later and like it or not it appears they found the killers and the investigation is now wrapping up.

Yes well things are seldom as they 'appear' in Thailand.

[Prbkk]

300 DNA collections later and like it or not it appears they found the killers and the investigation is now wrapping up.

Only able to check migrant workers dna. Can't check any local Thai dna, its against their human rights.

It is your right to cheer the arrest of the 2 Burmese kids. It is my right to ask for the many remaining questions to be answered.

Quite right. It may well transpire that the arrested pair are guilty as charged. However, given the bumbling, stumbling nature of the investigation, the long history of 'fit-ups'( including attempts to scapegoat migrant workers, the litany of scenarios presented as credible leads (including the crazed gay lover jealousy theory), it is not unreasoanble for people to be skeptical. Consequently it is imperative that the matter should proceed with full transparency: it would be wise for the RTP to seek the involvement of international bodies to confirm their dna findings and other evidence. By doing so they would allay concerns that the process has been tainted and any conviction 'unsafe'. They would gain credibility by "opening the books".

[The stuttering parrot]

It's all over boys.

The police even though they made a few gaffs have done an excellent job despite all the bad press and at sometimes hysterical statements made on this thread.

Quite frankly some of you need professional help back in your home countries because you clearly suffer from delusions of grandeur of being some type of crack detectives .

The sad part about all those nasty thread you guys have written is that you honestly believe yourselves and you rants.

The case is being wrapped up now and these guys are guilty and a job well done to all concerned in bringing these scumbags to justice.

[NongKhaiKid]

You are dead against anyone who has expressed doubts about this case and you have found the suspect guilty.

Seems like armchair detectives have been replaced by couch judges.

[StealthEnergiser]

What about the phone at the crime scene next to David's shorts who did that belong to ?

[petedk]

What about the phone at the crime scene next to David's shorts who did that belong to ?

The other newspaper said that it belonged to David and that the Burmese took it home but that the phone didn't work in Thailand so he smashed it.

If it didn't work, why was David carrying it around with him?

[The stuttering parrot]

Thank you ffaaanng for proving my point.

Your honour I rest my case!

[StealthEnergiser]

What about the phone at the crime scene next to David's shorts who did that belong to ?

The other newspaper said that it belonged to David and that the Burmese took it home but that the phone didn't work in Thailand so he smashed it.

If it didn't work, why was David carrying it around with him?

how could they take it home when it was photographed at the crime scene ?

[jacky54]

I am in the belief that we can't quote the great worthy long time worldwide news reporter Andrew Drummond.

This is not stated in TV forum rules but seems to be the case.

My last 3 posts of his got deleted, as Thai Visa is not here to provide information for Mr Drummond.

What's that all about?

He's the only reporter I will believe.

If he was just a reporter then why is he banned on just about every Thai forum, including this one I believe? There are better sources of information anyway.

[Lozza]

What about the phone at the crime scene next to David's shorts who did that belong to ?

The other newspaper said that it belonged to David and that the Burmese took it home but that the phone didn't work in Thailand so he smashed it.

If it didn't work, why was David carrying it around with him?

how could they take it home when it was photographed at the crime scene ?

David's phone was found at the scene......remember, the phone had a cracked screen with blood and a blonde hair stuck to it. That was reported that day.

So who's phone was behind the boy's house. It wasn't Hannah's or Davids they are accounted for.

Did they fingerprint the phone...this is not good at all looking like a big set-up.

If you watch the raid on the house it was night time they found the phone in a mass of bushes with a torch in 1 minute. The family should identify the phone asap, because they've swapped it or put David's phone in the bushes.

We're accepting that it was David's but look back it wasn't they've had David's phone from day one.

[mrtoad]

Given The BIBs reputation, people are quite rightly questioning the investigation.

[boomerangutang]

It's all over boys.

The police even though they made a few gaffs have done an excellent job despite all the bad press and at sometimes hysterical statements made on this thread.

Quite frankly some of you need professional help back in your home countries because you clearly suffer from delusions of grandeur of being some type of crack detectives .

The sad part about all those nasty thread you guys have written is that you honestly believe yourselves and you rants.

The case is being wrapped up now and these guys are guilty and a job well done to all concerned in bringing these scumbags to justice.

Only your first sentence is possibly true. It was all over when the bosses in Bangkok appointed a replacement head cop for the case with the instructions: "get this wrapped up. It's horrible for tourist numbers. Arrest some Burmese migrants, whatever, just do it now!" One day after the new boss showed up, the migrants were arrested, brought to the 'safe house' for several hours (we'll probably never know under what sort of coercion) and cops had their signed guilt forms (written in Thai). Next day, cops say the guilty didn't ask for attorneys so they don't get any. Then there was the ridiculous micro-managed reenactment which wasn't a reenactment in any real sense.

Now we're waiting to see if the Burmese actually have legal counsel and whether a lawyer is allowed to do what lawyers are supposed to do. Meanwhile, it's probable the real killers are out walking around and partying among our sons and daughters.

Things which may happen within the next week:

>>> rights group lawyer is not allowed. Instead a lawyer is appointed by powers-that-be. Or, cops can say, "sorry. The suspects had a chance to ask for a lawyer but didn't, so their time to request a lawyer has expired." or "they didn't ask for one, so that's it."

>>> one or both suspects (where's the 3rd Burmese suspect?) mysteriously commit suicide in their cells. Actually that would be the best solution for authorities, because then they could finish sweeping the whole mess under the carpet.

>>> Sean, who is the wild card and probably the best witness, could somehow submit testimony. Of course, if his testimony didn't sinc with what authorities want to hear, then he and/or his testimony can be squelched.

[Lozza]

It's okay. Let British police take DNA from the suspects and compare it to DNA evidence found on the victims. This will confirm Thai police findings and clear up all this doubt.

Surely the Thai police would welcome such involvement?

Is it possible for someone to go to the boy's house or ask a friend to collect their toothbrushes, clothing for dna or does it have to be a mouth swab.

The family could hand over belongings if need be.

I'm concerned the police will rush this through court and have these boys jailed for life or worst still the death penalty before any further testing can be arranged.

The cigarette dna has taken a back step-on their nights out the girls and david don't have cigarettes a friend did but not them. I can't picture Hannah sharing a cigarette with the boys.

Mon and Sean smoke?

Family can verify that, maybe they have and it's no longer on the list.

[StealthEnergiser]

What about the phone at the crime scene next to David's shorts who did that belong to ?

The other newspaper said that it belonged to David and that the Burmese took it home but that the phone didn't work in Thailand so he smashed it.

If it didn't work, why was David carrying it around with him?

how could they take it home when it was photographed at the crime scene ?

David's phone was found at the scene......remember, the phone had a cracked screen with blood and a blonde hair stuck to it. That was reported that day.

So who's phone was behind the boy's house. It wasn't Hannah's or Davids they are accounted for.

Did they fingerprint the phone...this is not good at all looking like a big set-up.

If you watch the raid on the house it was night time they found the phone in a mass of bushes with a torch in 1 minute. The family should identify the phone asap, because they've swapped it or put David's phone in the bushes.

We're accepting that it was David's but look back it wasn't they've had David's phone from day one.

do you have a link to the news source about the phone found at the scene ?

[Lozza]

300 DNA collections later and like it or not it appears they found the killers and the investigation is now wrapping up.

g'night john boy

[Lozza]

While the BIB may not have the greatest reputation around neither does Drummond. Looks like he will be fleeing Thailand very soon and can only hope that will mean an end to his personal investigative stories of people he is in legal battles with. At one time the guy had some relevance. He used to be an active poster here too but appears he has wore at his welcome on TV too.

your next

[greenchair]

What about the phone at the crime scene next to David's shorts who did that belong to ?

The other newspaper said that it belonged to David and that the Burmese took it home but that the phone didn't work in Thailand so he smashed it.

If it didn't work, why was David carrying it around with him?

Go back to first question.

Whose was the phone at crime scene?

Answer; it beonged to David, but burmese took it home.

Question; How can it be at the crime scene and taken home by burmese?

[hellyes2oo2]

I have just been reading a story about thai greed, about all the scamming that is going on in places like pattaya, koh samui and other islands. And a person has made a comment that says " The beheading of a belgian couple is just hitting international news and this will not help" I don't know if he is saying this has happened in Thailand, but would seem strange to mention it otherwise. Anyone else heard anything.