Koh Tao murders: Lawyer expresses doubts over new DNA test offer

[webfact]

Lawyer expresses doubts over new DNA test offer
Nyan Win Shein
Myanmar Eleven

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's offer to conduct a new DNA test on two Myanmar suspects accused of murdering two British tourists on Koh Tao can create problem for the suspects, according to lawyer Aung Myo Than.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on October 29 that they have no problem to conduct a new DNA test if critics expressed doubts about the DNA results were not fair. If Thailand conducts a new DNA test, they have to inform the lawyers of the defendants in advance and he hasn't received any letter from the Thai authorities, the lawyer told Daily Eleven.

"Thai police should make sure to have concrete evidence before the suspects are charged in court as they may face the death penalty. The police submitted DNA test as the only evidence and not a single witness was present. That's why Koh Samui prosecutors returned the case to Thai police to find further evidence.

"Now they want to conduct a DNA test again. We have to consult with the two defendants whether they want to go ahead with the second DNA test," he said.

Myanmar ambassador officially asked for help from the Lawyers' Council of Thailand on October 29 and a special delegation from Myanmar Embassy will visit the suspects at Koh Samui prison today.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Lawyer-expresses-doubts-over-new-DNA-test-offer-30246683.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-31

[JOC]

So now even Thai lawyers doubt the integrity of the Thai police!!

Welcome to the club!!

[sweatalot]

Why are they not requiring that only independent organisations (Brit Police eg) could do the DNA test and under close control from the taking of the sample until the publishing of the results.

Thai police involved should be strictly prohibited

Edited October 31, 2014 by sweatalot

[JOC]

"Thai police should make sure to have concrete evidence before the suspects are charged in court as they may face the death penalty. The police submitted DNA test as the only evidence and not a single witness was present. That's why Koh Samui prosecutors returned the case to Thai police to find further evidence

"and not a single witness was present"

Sums it up nicely, doesn't it??

[daveAustin]

You can test them a million times if you want, but unless the reference sample has come from Miss Witheridge, you may as well not bother.

[thailandchilli]

Brilliant, the only piece of evidence submitted to the prosecutors by the police was DNA!!

The perfect case rapped up is just being unwrapped for the world to see as a complete farce

[siampolee]

The truth in this case is not an endangered species but sadly an extinct species.

How many more distortions of the truth and perversions of justice are the Thai police farce force going to enact in their attempts to deny their total ineptness in an ongoing saga to protect their stipends no doubt.

Certainly their Police farce force reputation is in more shreds than Maggie Maes drawers ( Matelots song version)

[bruceybonus]

All they have put these two blokes through! And the only evidence they have is some dodgy DNA test done on the back of a fag packet! Disgraceful

[nanoth]

We must all stay modest and cautious:it is a very difficult inquiry!No material proofs,no witness!!!!!

It would be a very hard work for any police...even a western one....

[jpeg]

So now even Thai lawyers doubt the integrity of the Thai police!!

Welcome to the club!!

What do you mean, even?

[kkup]

Take away the dodgy results from suspicious DNA testing and they have 0 evidence.

[bruceybonus]

We must all stay modest and cautious:it is a very difficult inquiry!No material proofs,no witness!!!!!

It would be a very hard work for any police...even a western one....

What on earth are you on about!!! take your head out of the clouds. There would of been loads and loads and loads of evidence if the police hadn't sabotaged the crime scene. There is still missing cctv, phone records, flight records & the 'little duck'!

Any proper police force would have had this sorted within a month, hook, line & sinker

Edited October 31, 2014 by bruceybonus

[jpeg]

The truth in this case is not an endangered species but sadly an extinct species.

How many more distortions of the truth and perversions of justice are the Thai police farce force going to enact in their attempts to deny their total ineptness in an ongoing saga to protect their stipends no doubt.

Certainly their Police farce force reputation is in more shreds than Maggie Maes drawers ( Matelots song version)

I agree. However, it's not merely a case of 'stipends' bribes. They truly ARE that bloody inept. Hesitating with 'stupid' only because after all these years and experience, not all are stupid. Just IGNORANT. Difference.

Hey! You with Thai wives will understand, no?

Edited October 31, 2014 by jpeg

[Johnsen]

It, this case, has been beyond pathetic for a long, long time now. Honestly where to next... Pray for Scotland Yard to have something. If not Thailand has just slipped into unrecoverable reputation status. Sadly I think the powers that be couldn't care less...

[Briggsy]

So now even Thai lawyers doubt the integrity of the Thai police!!

Welcome to the club!!

The lawyer quoted is Burmese.

[falangjim]

What happened to the UK police? Who cares what any RTP do in this case? They've effed it up from the beginning. Tell us what the UK Police, the real police, have to say.

[Manbing]

Say it isn't so!!!!

[catsanddogs]

This from the Great Yarmouth Mercury:

http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/men_accused_of_killing_hemsby_student_hannah_witheridge_could_have_new_dna_tests_1_3825743

[Suffinator]

The lack of trust for the Thai Gov and especially the RTP shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone when you have a society that literally survives of elitism and corruption.

The entire investigation will never be resolved until the British police are allowed to conduct their own independent tests - something that is never going to happen.

I for one will remain outside of Thailand and will never return.

[Grindting]

What a depressing state of affairs

[bannork]

So now even Thai lawyers doubt the integrity of the Thai police!!

Welcome to the club!!

Get it right joc, it's a Burmese lawyer.

He should ask, probably has done already actually, the UK police if they have any DNA from inside Hannah,if they do, then compare it to his clients' .

[culicine]

Brilliant, the only piece of evidence submitted to the prosecutors by the police was DNA!!

The perfect case rapped up is just being unwrapped for the world to see as a complete farce

And their report was 800 pages long

hmm...no witnesses to the DNA collection....the judge will love that! I'd think I'd be politely declining the General's offer of new tests, in light of this information.

[Baerboxer]

We must all stay modest and cautious:it is a very difficult inquiry!No material proofs,no witness!!!!!

It would be a very hard work for any police...even a western one....

What on earth are you on about!!! take your head out of the clouds. There would of been loads and loads and loads of evidence if the police hadn't sabotaged the crime scene. There is still missing cctv, phone records, flight records & the 'little duck'!

Any proper police force would have had this sorted within a month, hook, line & sinker

Really Sherlock. That's why there are many unsolved murders on most police forces' lists of unsolved crimes. Many old "cold cases" now being revisited in light of technological advance such as DNA, with some very old cases being solved and the killer(s) brought to justice.

Solved in a month - based on what? You telling them who did it?

Take your head from where the sun don't shine. The police investigation file has not been made public so we don't really know what they have and haven't done. We know the crime scene wasn't isolated, that some officers made all sorts of comments and some posted inappropriate photos. Several leads / potential suspects were announced. Where these all investigated thoroughly - no idea, but the British Police will have now.

Police work isn't like all those wonderful American TV shows where the guilty get caught every week.

[hobz]

Why are they not requiring that only independent organisations (Brit Police eg) could do the DNA test and under close control from the taking of the sample until the publishing of the results.

Thai police involved should be strictly prohibited

Because that would open an enormous can of worms. Every case could be reopened. And probably should lol

[newcomer71]

The police submitted DNA test as the only evidence and not a single witness was present. That's why Koh Samui prosecutors returned the case to Thai police to find further evidence.

This speaks volumes...

Edited October 31, 2014 by newcomer71

[bruceybonus]

We must all stay modest and cautious:it is a very difficult inquiry!No material proofs,no witness!!!!!

It would be a very hard work for any police...even a western one....

What on earth are you on about!!! take your head out of the clouds. There would of been loads and loads and loads of evidence if the police hadn't sabotaged the crime scene. There is still missing cctv, phone records, flight records & the 'little duck'!

Any proper police force would have had this sorted within a month, hook, line & sinker

Really Sherlock. That's why there are many unsolved murders on most police forces' lists of unsolved crimes. Many old "cold cases" now being revisited in light of technological advance such as DNA, with some very old cases being solved and the killer(s) brought to justice.

Solved in a month - based on what? You telling them who did it?

Take your head from where the sun don't shine. The police investigation file has not been made public so we don't really know what they have and haven't done. We know the crime scene wasn't isolated, that some officers made all sorts of comments and some posted inappropriate photos. Several leads / potential suspects were announced. Where these all investigated thoroughly - no idea, but the British Police will have now.

Police work isn't like all those wonderful American TV shows where the guilty get caught every week.

Yes, really, next!

[bruceybonus]

We must all stay modest and cautious:it is a very difficult inquiry!No material proofs,no witness!!!!!

It would be a very hard work for any police...even a western one....

What on earth are you on about!!! take your head out of the clouds. There would of been loads and loads and loads of evidence if the police hadn't sabotaged the crime scene. There is still missing cctv, phone records, flight records & the 'little duck'!

Any proper police force would have had this sorted within a month, hook, line & sinker

Really Sherlock. That's why there are many unsolved murders on most police forces' lists of unsolved crimes. Many old "cold cases" now being revisited in light of technological advance such as DNA, with some very old cases being solved and the killer(s) brought to justice.

Solved in a month - based on what? You telling them who did it?

Take your head from where the sun don't shine. The police investigation file has not been made public so we don't really know what they have and haven't done. We know the crime scene wasn't isolated, that some officers made all sorts of comments and some posted inappropriate photos. Several leads / potential suspects were announced. Where these all investigated thoroughly - no idea, but the British Police will have now.

Police work isn't like all those wonderful American TV shows where the guilty get caught every week.

Yes, really, next!

In fact it should of been solved inside 12 hours! Put your brain in gear and think about it! Let me give you a clue. A Thai guy was caught VERY quickly in a scenario while not the same, has similarities!

[Yann55]

Why are they not requiring that only independent organisations (Brit Police eg) could do the DNA test and under close control from the taking of the sample until the publishing of the results.

Thai police involved should be strictly prohibited

Why ??? Are you really asking that question here in Thailand ???

It would be an unthinkable loss of face ! Don't tell me you don't know that if you live here or even if you're a tourist.

This loss of face business is one of the first mind-boggling things Westerners are confronted with here and even after decades of living in Asia I believe that no white guy ever makes any sense of this bizarre animal.

That being said, to be fair, I can't think of a single country, Asian or not, who would do such a thing ie publicly disavow its own police force. You just don't shoot yourself in the foot.

[Khun Paul]

While the apparent lack of any corroborating evidence and the fact if I read the OP correctly further DNA tests need to be informed to the defence lawyers prior to anything else and to date this has not been done, it would therefore appear that quite possibly the RTP have actually run out of leads to investigate further. Their initial investigation turned up a few suspects but they were all tested and discounted, possible enquires may yet lead to more suspects but it would appear clutching at straws while drowning in a sea of ignominy appears to be the case. It also seems that the ERTP PR departement has failed in its remit as too many officers voiced too many scenarios, thus leading all and sundry to question anything and everything.

Whatever the outcome one hopes that someone looks carefully at how the RETP acted and they put their house in order which would also mean officers keeping their collective mouths shut and let a trained PR person speak on their behalf.

[robert888d]

This just goes on and on and on. The incompetentcy of it all is sad!