Thai police rule out murder for Briton found dead on Koh Tao

[webfact]

Police Rule Out Murder For Briton Found Dead on Koh Tao
By Khaosod English


A photo Christina Annesley from what appears to be her twitter account, days before she was found dead in her bungalow on Koh Tao. https://twitter.com/chrstinadarling

SURAT THANI — A senior police officer has insisted that the 23-year-old British tourist who died on the southern island of Koh Tao this week was not murdered.

He was responding to early comparisons that were drawn to the two British backpackers, David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, who murdered on the island last year.

On Wednesday, Christina Annesley was found dead on in her bungalow on Haat Sai Ri Beach, the same beach that the battered bodies of Miller and Witheridge were found on in September 2014.

Annesley’s body was found by staff at the resort where she was staying, said Pol.Lt.Col. Chokechai Sutthimek, superintendent of Koh Tao Police Station. A cleaning worker went to check her room after she failed to show up at the reception desk on the day she was scheduled to check out, Pol.Lt.Col. Chokechai said.

"At this moment, we do not know the cause of her death. We did not find any assault on her body or signs of rummaging in her room. None of her belongings appear to be missing," said the officer from Koh Tao Police Station, which was established last year to provide more security on the island following the murders of Miller and Witheridge.

"We only found medicine in the room," said Pol.Lt.Col. Chokechai. "We are working to find out what kind of medicine it is."

Pol.Lt.Col. Chokechai stressed that Annesley's death does not appear to be a case of murder. Police will brief the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Bangkok, Thai public, and "social media" as soon as they have further details about the death, he said.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1421998549&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-24

[webfact]

No signs of foul play in Briton's death
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Initial investigation has found no foul play in the death of a 23-year-old British woman earlier this week in Surat Thani's Koh Tao.

The body of Christina Annesley, 23, was discovered in her rented bungalow, and there were no signs of ransacking or struggle. Police will send the body, which showed no marks of aggression or injury, to Surat Thani Hospital's forensic division for further examination.

Pol General Ruangsak Jritake, deputy National Police chief, said yesterday that police were focusing on examining the woman's room and nearby area as well as a thorough collection of forensic evidence. He said some medication has been found in the room, and police are checking to see if it is linked to the death.

Annesley's parents, who are on the island, believe their daughter died of 'natural causes'.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-signs-of-foul-play-in-Britons-death-30252574.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-24

[smedly]

Annesley's parents, who are on the island, believe their daughter died of 'natural causes'.

I wish they would stop saying that - there is nothing natural about any of this

[berybert]

Her parents have flown out to the island ? Or are they trying to make it sound like they were there all along.. This is the sort of reporting that gets peoples suspicions up.

[HeijoshinCool]

Absolutely no way to know what the cause of death was until an autopsy is completed, including toxicology. In this case, especially toxicology.

These guys are always chomping at the bit to come to conclusions.

But I guess they are more worried about tourism, than truth.

[thesetat2013]

How many days has it been and they have yet to identify the pills? How can that be when it only takes size shape color or even what's written on the pill to identify it online.

The RTP are basing their natural death theory only because no break in or theft occurred. How does a pretty y good young woman die naturally. The picture here states it was taken a few days prior to her death and she doesn't look deathly ill.

[LuckyLew]

Why would the parents come out so quickly and say she died of natural causes?

Alcohol and medication do not mix

Was she ill before her travels?

[alfalfa19]

Not murder. Well now, that is certainly reassuring, considering the source.

[Commerce]

Murder Island continues in its obscurity. 23 year olds don't just suddenly die of natural causes, unless having had long-term illness and being at end-stage. She looks perfectly ok to me on the photo, and Twittering her stay.

Another stinker from the Island of Death.

As for the police punks, well of course they'd say it looked natural.

The serial killer/s is/are still on the loose, no doubt about it.

[jaywalker]

I guess there aren't as many balconies on KT as compared to BKK and Pattaya to blame deaths on.

What's up w/ those glasses? That pic looks like something straight out of a Japanese anime cartoon.

[jalansanitwong]

Why dont the police stop those Thai punks from selling illegal booze on the island beaches.

They wouldnt have a proper liquor license, if any.

The cops are probably getting pay offs from all the beach cocktail vendors

Thai tourism is a shambles.

[impulse]

Why dont the police stop those Thai punks from selling illegal booze on the island beaches.

They wouldnt have a proper liquor license, if any.

The cops are probably getting pay offs from all the beach cocktail vendors

Thai tourism is a shambles.

Why don't the police stop those Thai police from selling illegal booze on the island beaches.

Fixed it for you.

[impulse]

Add a bad chest cold (her tweets?) to an allergy to mold (worse in the tropics, but my conjecture as I'm so afflicted), throw in a hectic schedule, lack of sleep, some moderate drinking and interacting medicines, and unfamiliar surroundings, and I have no problem believing her breathing difficulties accelerated so quickly she didn't get to help on time. Not exactly "natural", but perhaps not foul play.

Of course, best to wait for the forensic testing to see if any other factors played a role, like pesticides, DEET in the alcohol, food poisoning, tainted meds, etc. Or it may be as simple as a very bad reaction to perfectly good medicine she bought over the counter. Like an allergy to penicillin.

[Commerce]

I hope this sends out a clear message to the world now; "Do not go to Kao Tao!"

Then let's see how these mobsters survive with no income from 'farang'. I hope, in all heart of hearts, that their businesses die the death!

[Seastallion]

"At this moment, we do not know the cause of her death."

Then you can't rule out murder, plonker.

If it is to do with the medication and it is found that the meds were illegally manufactured or sold....then that should be deemed murder, or negligent homicide.

[jamstock]

I wonder how many people will have to die before the police finally admit that they need to catch this serial killer?

[jamstock]

I hope this sends out a clear message to the world now; "Do not go to Kao Tao!"

Then let's see how these mobsters survive with no income from 'farang'. I hope, in all heart of hearts, that their businesses die the death!

The mobsters will no doubt be absolutely fine. It's the small business owners who will suffer.

[PepperMe]

The Thais are completely incompetent with autopsies. The British embassy should NOT allow them to perform autopsies on British citizens.

It has been days and they "claim" they can not find the cause of death yet... In the UK they can normally determine the cause of death within a day.... no problem

The autopsy in my opinion will be nothing more than clearing every trace of rape and murder and planting toxins into the body to introduce a fake death scenario before the body is released to the family for repatriation and a subsequent UK autopsy.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but when 6 people die in suspicious circumstances in a tiny area with tiny population over a very short 6 month period. Then combine this with our knowledge of corrupt police, cover ups, local mafia and a desire to protect a seriously ailing local tourism industry.... Then it is quite reasonable that every sun subsequent death in that place is met with skepticism and extreme suspicion.

We all know what the RTP are like and we all know what they are capable of and we all know that protecting their tourism is miles above securing justice for a worthless falang walking ATM.

Leopards do not change their spots and all this suspicion and conspiracy has been brought on by themselves.

There is something seriously foul going on in that place, and the police are controlling it.

[draftvader]

A post containing a rather extreme version of events with no evidence or links has been removed along with many replies quoting it.

2) You will not use ThaiVisa.com to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false, inaccurate, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise in violation of any law.

If the poster can provide links or evidence then please provide that. Otherwise it can be reasonably construed as false or inaccurate.

Another post has been removed for being off-topic.

[timewilltell]

And who believes the police in Thailand anymore - especially the police on Koh Tao. The problem now is that the police and justice system in Thailand really has lost all credibility so no one believes anything they say whether it is true or not.

So sad another young life full of promise wasted.

[BeforeTigers]

Having no idea what medicines were in the room and not having done an autopsy, we can say for certain that it was not murder.

Do they literally beat the imagination out of people in Thai schools, or do they wait til police academy to do that?

[alanrchase]

Having no idea what medicines were in the room and not having done an autopsy, we can say for certain that it was not murder.

Do they literally beat the imagination out of people in Thai schools, or do they wait til police academy to do that?

The quote from the policeman in the OP says they do not know the cause of death. The certain it is not murder part is from the author of the OP.

[PepperMe]

How many days has it been and they have yet to identify the pills? How can that be when it only takes size shape color or even what's written on the pill to identify it online.

The RTP are basing their natural death theory only because no break in or theft occurred. How does a pretty y good young woman die naturally. The picture here states it was taken a few days prior to her death and she doesn't look deathly ill.

Maybe no break in because the perps have a key?

Maybe no robbery of any of the 6 who died suspiciously because the perps have money?

No robbery in any case tells me that it is not a poor migrant who is committing these foul acts.

[Commerce]

I don't recall this death/poss murder on Kao Tao being reported days ago. Did I miss something?

[draftvader]

I don't recall this death/poss murder on Kao Tao being reported days ago. Did I miss something?

It was reported by a poster a little earlier on the 22nd but we had to wait for a news article from a known source before we could open up a thread.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/794040-thailand-backpacker-death-christina-annesley-in-mystery-death-on-double-brit-murder-island

[Sviss Geez]

Annesley's parents, who are on the island, believe their daughter died of 'natural causes'.

I wish they would stop saying that - there is nothing natural about any of this

And so many people wish you, and others, would stop saying things like this unless you have something to back up what appears to be unjustified speculation and, therefore, nonsense.

[Sviss Geez]

Her parents have flown out to the island ? Or are they trying to make it sound like they were there all along.. This is the sort of reporting that gets peoples suspicions up.

Perhaps they are just stating a fact and not trying to suggest anything else like you are. There is nothing suspicious about the reporting at all except in the minds of the conspirators.

[bkkgooner]

apparently the girl was fairly fond of mixing tramadol and alcohol which is a good way to suffer a seizure. the fact that the parents are fairly quick to call it natural means it could have been a suicide as well.

23 is really no type of age to be dying at, poor girl

[Sviss Geez]

Absolutely no way to know what the cause of death was until an autopsy is completed, including toxicology. In this case, especially toxicology.

These guys are always chomping at the bit to come to conclusions.

But I guess they are more worried about tourism, than truth.

Exactly, you may have missed this but to quote from the OP...

"At this moment, we do not know the cause of her death. We did not find any assault on her body or signs of rummaging in her room. None of her belongings appear to be missing," said the officer from Koh Tao Police Station,"

Doesn't seem to be much chomping going on from the police at the moment.

[Sviss Geez]

How many days has it been and they have yet to identify the pills? How can that be when it only takes size shape color or even what's written on the pill to identify it online.

The RTP are basing their natural death theory only because no break in or theft occurred. How does a pretty y good young woman die naturally. The picture here states it was taken a few days prior to her death and she doesn't look deathly ill.

"The RTP are basing their natural death theory..."

They are not, they are waiting for the result of the postmortem.

"How does a pretty y good young woman die naturally...she doesn't look deathly ill." [sic]

Surely your medical background would tell you the answer to that?