Koh Tao: Trial opens for 2 accused of killing British tourists

[StealthEnergiser]

POST 4676, Why are you all continuing to post after this, READ THIS POSTING OK, THIS IS FROM TODAY , saturday 25 th JULY. keyboard warriors .

one tourist murder suspect now arrested, another on the runSeptember 23, 2014 3:18 pm

(

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-tourist-murder-suspect-now-arrested-another-run

[Nigeone]

POST 4676, Why are you all continuing to post after this, READ THIS POSTING OK, THIS IS FROM TODAY , saturday 25 th JULY. keyboard warriors .

As I've messaged you this is from 24th sept 2014. If you look on the the side of the article you will also see a redaction of said headlines saying he's been cleared.. Old news!

[apetley]

Reading through past post I can't but wonder what all this is about and some Victory Parade. I mean before the discovery that the DNA can be retested. So maybe better we start there to get that out of the way.

I have claimed from the start that I hoped that the courts would allow this DNA to be retested. I still feel the same today. I like everyone else was confused with reports saying it was lost, or used up, or eaten by a snake. But now that it can be retested I think that is fine. All I added to this was to be careful for what you ask for as you might get it.

If these test do come back negative, like the first ones, then the gig is up. It is game over. There is no turning back after this point, The accused chances of a successful victory at trial, and even appeal, I would think would be very little. So I will wait and see and see if these tests actually take place. If they are guilty it would be easier to try and poke holes in the Prosecutions DNA Evidence then to have you own which agrees with his.

Someone pointed out that if the defense discovered through DNA that they did do it, they wouldn't have to show this in court. Perhaps at the very beginning if they conducted there own DNA Independent Test he may be right. I am not sure. But since the Defense had to appeal to the court to allow this, and this was granted, then I would think the court would want to see the results regardless. But again I am not sure.

That's a rational and relevant post and your right it would be good to,get the results of DNA.

Unfortunately whatever side of the fence you sit on its plainly obvious that the DNA testing cannot be verified as being collected ,stored and examined properly as right from the start the crime scene was compromised. From not keeping it sterile to incorrect taking of samples. We don't know about all the other procedures including storage,correct testing and catalogue of the samples and a paper trail is said samples. This is not sitting on either fence just a fact and if the only evidence is DNA I don't think that's anyway enough for a correct judgement. As I've said DNA will not prove murder in this case just at worst an accessory or being there. The fact it's compromised would mean it wouldn't even be admissible in a civilised worlds court system.

I'm not having a go just pointing out this would still leave as many questions as answers

"Compromised" means to accept standards lower than is desirable, "Compromised" does not mean "Destroyed".

For example if you were investigating the Crime Scene you would expect to find the footprints in the sand of the 2 Victims, plus any others who could belong to the murders. But now that 6 others entered the Crime Scene, the Crime Scene has been compromised.

This doesn't mean these footprints of the victims and possible murders aren't there anymore. It just now means that you have to sift through everyone's footprints that were in there, and clear them all as suspects, which is not desired. Unless of course a herd of cattle went through and destroyed all the footprints, but judging from photos of the police measuring the footprints, I don't think this was the case.

Now if you think the sperm samples taken from Hannah at the Forensic Lab was compromised and planted, then I have no more to say to you on this subject as then we disagree,

So you consider keeping DNA samples from a brutal murder in a bar fridge as totally acceptable do you?

[khunken]

The CCTV footage from the pier is a red herring from the defense, it has no bearing whatsoever in the case against the two Burmese men.

No, it seems to me like it was an obvious path of investigation that was ignored by the cops but that should have, whatever the results, been investigated as a matter of course. A red Herring from the Defence? For what?

It's a red herring because whatever went on at the pier is not part of the case the prosecution has put together against the men on trial.

The investigation team collected enough evidence against the two Burmese to indict them and none of it relates to footage from that pier, harping on that will not prove the DNA evidence is false, it's not going to prove they were not near the scene of the crime, it's not going to prove they were not in possession of one of the victim's phone, it's not going to erase any of their four confessions, etc, etc...

You mean the confessions that were taken under duress and torture, behind closed doors, with no video or audio record or transcript which were later recanted when they got media and human rights involved. Ok.

The investigation's evidence does not relate to the footage? Well no shit sherlock, or they would have used it. The defence is more than justified in asking why it wasn't examined. Thats half the point - the defence needs to question areas of the investigation that are contentious, or things that were ignored.

ANd again with your DNA evidence - they have still to bring this out. And if they have it on stock, but don't have the original swabs, how can that be verified??

The corrupt RTP apologist - AleG - has just nailed it above:

The investigation team collected enough evidence against the two Burmese to indict them

Exactly and that is what they were told to do and ignore/destroy/misuse any other possible, no matter how faint or telling, leads that could have led elsewhere.

It started with 'no Thai could have done this' & there was never a chance of a full & proper investigation. The RTP love fixing up scapegoats, especially if there is someone with money involved.

Edited July 25, 2015 by khunken

[sambum]

Apologize if this has been posted before but this is the first time I've seen an extra day added to the trial and we also have confirmation that Dr Pornthip will attend for the defense.

SURAT THANI — The head of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science will testify in defense of two Burmese men accused of killing two British backpackers in southern Thailand last year.

Judges ruled on Friday to add an additional day to the trial to allow for CIFS director Pornthip Rojanasunand to take the witness stand at Koh Samui Provincial Court on 11 September. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437793064&section=12

Just have to wait for certain posters now to come along and discredit her some more..yawn

She discredited herself by her actions. This is a completely justified claim, as she continues to insist that empty plastic boxes, made in the garden shed of confidence tricksters who are now in an English jail for fraud, work as bomb , drug and human remains detectors, through methods "that science can't explain".

You can be very convinced that the case against the two Burmese seems flimsy and incompetent, and still be appalled at the calling of such a person as a defence witness.

There is no discrepancy between wanting the accused in this case to have the best defence possible, and distrusting the objectivity and expertise of one of the defence witnesses. I would not want her defending me, in a case where influence could be brought to bear on her by the people who gave her her job back.

She is obviously very well qualified, and has been known in the past to step on a few toes when she has felt it to be necessary, but I am inclined to agree with your closing statement. As I have said before on this thread, I consider that independent testing of the DNA should be exactly that. It should be done in another country that has no axe to grind with Thailand, either for political favour, or business deals, and independent of the RTP and the Thai Government in all its shapes and forms. As it stands now, as you quite rightly imply, only one question needs to be asked of Dr Pornthip - "Do you want to keep your job?"

She has given evidence before in cases against the prosecution regarding murder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSBUtz0gwAY

First of all, I must say that my post was in no way a criticism of Dr Pornthip, and I am not at all surprised that she had previously given evidence against the prosecution in a murder case. As I stated in my post, "stepped on a few toes" may be one way to describe it, another could be to say that she is not afraid to speak what she considers to be the truth.

However, this is a VERY high profile case, and who knows what "carrots and stick" psychology may be at work? We have no way of knowing that, but the main point that I am making is that I don't believe that Dr Pornthip should be put into such a position, because she is in danger of getting caught in a Catch 22 type situation.

For instance, if she says that the B2 DNA matches the DNA on the hoe, there will be many people who say that she has been threatened/"got at", only wants to keep her job, must have been promised vast amounts of money etc etc etc.

On the other hand, if she says that the B2 DNA does NOT match the DNA on the hoe, then she will be accused of being "unreliable" as previous episodes in her past can bear testimony to.

I still stand by what I said in my post - that "independent testing" should be exactly that, and that in my opinion, as Dr Pornthip is employed by the Thai Government, she is consequently not in a position to be classified as independent.

There is an enormous amount at stake here - not just the lives of a couple of Burmese workers, but the whole reputation of the Thai legal system, and all manner of consequences should the verdict be seen to be wrong. The judge(s) have already agreed that the DNA can be independently tested, so let's have it independently tested - but not by somebody who is employed by the Thai Government.

Edited July 25, 2015 by sambum

[Thaidream]

Follow the trail- we know they were in the AC bar- what happened there? Was there an altercation or not? Then what happened next- timelines and witness interviews. This case is solvable. There is always a motive. The defense needs to do their own independent investigation. Someone will eventually crack. Why would 2 Burmese workers murder 2 foreign tourists? They would have had no motive.

[balo]

Follow the trail- we know they were in the AC bar- what happened there? Was there an altercation or not? Then what happened next- timelines and witness interviews. This case is solvable. There is always a motive. The defense needs to do their own independent investigation. Someone will eventually crack. Why would 2 Burmese workers murder 2 foreign tourists? They would have had no motive.

I agree with everything you say except for the last sentence, you dont need a motive if youre influenced by drugs or alcohol and want to sexually rape and even murder someone.

Doesnt matter if they are Burmese, Thais or other people. People are ebeing murdered on a weekly basis in Thailand and most of the killings happens under the influence of drugs.

Edited July 25, 2015 by balo

[GOLDBUGGY]

The other thing that bothers me from the NS supporters is they like to say NS had a girlfriend at the time, so he wouldn't need to rape...... That's that Thai logic getting them screwed at every turn.

NS lives in Bangkok. He comes from a wealthy family. I am sure he could easily find many single girls at university, who would want to latch on some of his wealth, or he could easily pay for it.

But since you keep suggesting he is a rapist then why not do that in Bangkok, and were he lives? Why would he come out to an Island on a weekend, and where his Father, Uncle, and perhaps other family members have a vested interest in Tourism, to do this? That a crime like this would hurt tourism, and thus hurt his family. He is a university student so surely he would know this before hand.

You posted here what you think is Thai Logic and like you are some professional with this, and speaking for all Thai's, which I doubt you are Thai. So let me make it easy for you and give you some Good Old Fashioned American Logic.

"You don't bite the hand that is feeding you!"

[Rimmer]

A couple of off topic bickering posts have been removed

[Thaidream]

You don't worry about the hand that feeds you in Thailand- if you are from a wealthy family- you will always get fed- However, if you are rejected and lose face and are under the influence of alcohol or drugs- the next step is normally violence. I am speaking in a general sense and not indicating anyone's guilt or innocence.

[apetley]

jtj.JPG

I recommend to do this if you want peace and quiet from utter ridiculous comments.

Great idea!........... Now for the rest of the Glee club!

Have you seen this......http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-tourist-murder-suspect-now-arrested-another-run

posted just 10 minutes ago......

The police have arrested a suspect in the murder of two British tourists in Koh Tao and are still hunting for a second suspect who has escaped into Bangkok.

Eighth Region Police Command commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen identified the first suspect as Mon.

He is the brother of a village headman in Koh Tao.

He was arrested after evidence which police collected were examined and proved he was involved, he said.

He also said another suspect is also a son of that village headman. But he has already to Bangkok.

He said both suspects were captured by CCTV cameras and the police have gathered enough evidence to implicate them in the murders.

He said the southern police were coordinating with the metropolitan police to hunt him down, and expected to apprehend him today.

The southern police chief also assured the public that there was no arrest of scapegoats in this murder case as it now is a focal attention of the world.

He also dismissed any suggestion of local mafias or influential people that could twist the investigation with promise that local influence would pose no obstacle to the police investigation.

Instead the police will eliminate all these mafias, he said.

Meanwhile a police source said the police are also looking into the cooperation of those who helped to arrange the suspect to escape. They also will be arrested.

Tags: Bangkok., CCTV, escaped, hunting, mafias, Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen, scapegoats, Southern police chief, village headman.

Great if true, has this been verified/can anyone offer a credible link?

Read up on this case and you will find out this was all news just after the murders happened.

[GOLDBUGGY]

Another one of my favorite regular posts here is "My Wife(brother sister, friend, or cousin) is Thai and she thinks the 2 accused didn't do these crimes.

What makes you think for even one second that these people are privy to certain information that we don't have? They are subject to the same Social Media Networks, just like most of you, but this time in Thai. Also where all these Spin Doctors creating doubt through false information to cast a Web to catch Fools in it.

Most Thais I know are much more concerned with Rice and Rubber Prices then they are with some Murder in Tim-Buck-To involving Farangs. ,

You're right GB, we don't have a lot of data - which could shed light on who the real criminals are. Here's why: the people paid by taxpayers to protect the public, and to properly investigate crimes ......are intentionally withholding/trashing/tweaking/misrepresenting/not-looking-at evidence to try and mislead the public who are paying their salaries.

If I have a broken car and I take it to a car fixing shop, I want them to tell me what's wrong, and hopefully they can fix it. If RTP was running a car repair shop, they would do the following:

>>> grossly mis-diagnose

>>> not look at key indications of problems

>>> intentionally break things

>>> lie to the customer about everything

>>> over-charge, and leave the customer with a car in worse shape than when she brought it in.

Been to that car repair shop myself, wasn't run buy the RTP though.

Sounds like the last place I took my car last in Canada. I wonder if they have a franchise here?

[Nigeone]

Follow the trail- we know they were in the AC bar- what happened there? Was there an altercation or not? Then what happened next- timelines and witness interviews. This case is solvable. There is always a motive. The defense needs to do their own independent investigation. Someone will eventually crack. Why would 2 Burmese workers murder 2 foreign tourists? They would have had no motive.

I agree with everything you say except for the last sentence, you dont need a motive if youre influenced by drugs or alcohol and want to sexually rape and even murder

Doesnt matter if they are Burmese, Thais or other people. People are ebeing murdered on a weekly basis in Thailand and most of the killings happens under the influence of drugs.

Yes you might be right but why on earth if they did it would they hang around afterwards. Let's be honest anyone doing this particularly the Burmese would get the hell out of there . Also why, and it's very clear it's happened would the Thai mafia on the Island bother to shut everybody up and lean on translators etc for Burmese who they look on as low life. No it's doesn't make sense in any shape or form. And I don't feel this was about rape so much as I agree with many other posters it was about face. This also was carried out by psychos who more than likely have done similar before. This was a brutal brutal act.

[minikev]

Goldbuggy

How can one respond to someone who after nearly one year doesn't even know who is on trial here? The RPT are not on trial here, nor is Thailand, the people on trial here are 2 Migrant Workers accused of a double Murder, Rape, and Robbery. They are the ones who need defending, and not the RTP. I have no connection to any police force in the world or anyone on this Island, that I did not even know existed a year ago. My opinions are strictly opinions which I try to base mostly on fact and not social media gossip, and my agenda is to shed some light on some twisted facts.

Your very wrong with this statement. While sure the B2 are on trial so is the RTP and the Thai justice system. Everybody and I mean everybody has a story about extortion and cover ups and graft in these areas. So are you denying that extortion isn't carried out by RTP on a hourly basis and that these same authorities aren't responsible or turn a blind eye to most of the criminal activity in Thailand.

And as for for the poor workers in Kao Tao and other Islands do you really thing that the powers that be care about them one bit.

No to them it's just cheap labour from a compromised race who even after employment get deductions and have to pay for so many things that should be taken for granted. You didn't see the Sky reporter live interviewing a Burmese worker on KT. Saying everyone there has to pay to the mafia just to have the right to be there. No, the people running KT don't care one bit about Burmese workers.

Which makes me ask why would the same powers that be lean so heavily on translators and such like if it was Burmese involved.

That's illogical in every way.

This Extortion started in Myanmar, and not in Thailand, when the 2 accused paid good money to someone to be smuggled here and become Illegal Aliens in Thailand in the first place. You can scream and shout at the top of your lungs about Workers Rights,but the reality of it all is they don't have a right to be here in the first place, and thus are not entitled to have Workers Rights. The same as in your country.

When you start out with shady people in the first place, call them mafia if you like, you are stuck with them until the end. Trafficking in Women, Trafficking with Illegal Alien Workers, is almost the same same my friend. How many women and girls get smuggled over the border for the sex trade in different parts of the world? But the big money always starts in their own country.

But this is not on trial here. That goes to the World Court. This case is about a Double Murder and Rape of 2 innocent victims and trying to determine without reason doubt who did this.

Lets see what this retesting of this DNA brings.

Who on earth do you think helps illegal immigrants come here. Perhaps their employers?

Actually I don't know if the B2 were illegal. I think I read at least one wasn't. Not that that makes much difference as with 500 baht a month they would get a pass from the local plod.

[ffaarraanngg]

e Glee club!

Have you seen this......http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-tourist-murder-suspect-now-arrested-another-run

posted just 10 minutes ago......

The police have arrested a suspect in the murder of two British tourists in Koh Tao and are still hunting for a second suspect who has escaped into Bangkok.

Eighth Region Police Command commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen identified the first suspect as Mon.

He is the brother of a village headman in Koh Tao.

He was arrested after evidence which police collected were examined and proved he was involved, he said.

He also said another suspect is also a son of that village headman. But he has already to Bangkok.

He said both suspects were captured by CCTV cameras and the police have gathered enough evidence to implicate them in the murders.

He said the southern police were coordinating with the metropolitan police to hunt him down, and expected to apprehend him today.

The southern police chief also assured the public that there was no arrest of scapegoats in this murder case as it now is a focal attention of the world.

He also dismissed any suggestion of local mafias or influential people that could twist the investigation with promise that local influence would pose no obstacle to the police investigation.

Instead the police will eliminate all these mafias, he said.

Meanwhile a police source said the police are also looking into the cooperation of those who helped to arrange the suspect to escape. They also will be arrested.

Tags: Bangkok., CCTV, escaped, hunting, mafias, Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen, scapegoats, Southern police chief, village headman.

Great news if true; Has this been verified? Can anyone offer a credible link?

Surely Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen should be a witness for the defence .... and were he to retract the statements it would show he was either lying or is in contempt of court.

[GOLDBUGGY]

It's a red herring because whatever went on at the pier is not part of the case the prosecution has put together against the men on trial.

The investigation team collected enough evidence against the two Burmese to indict them and none of it relates to footage from that pier, harping on that will not prove the DNA evidence is false, it's not going to prove they were not near the scene of the crime, it's not going to prove they were not in possession of one of the victim's phone, it's not going to erase any of their four confessions, etc, etc...

You mean the confessions that were taken under duress and torture, behind closed doors, with no video or audio record or transcript which were later recanted when they got media and human rights involved. Ok.

The investigation's evidence does not relate to the footage? Well no shit sherlock, or they would have used it. The defence is more than justified in asking why it wasn't examined. Thats half the point - the defence needs to question areas of the investigation that are contentious, or things that were ignored.

ANd again with your DNA evidence - they have still to bring this out. And if they have it on stock, but don't have the original swabs, how can that be verified??

I mean all the confessions that we know of.

-They confessed to the police investigators.

-They confessed to representatives of the Myanmar Embassy and their lawyers.

-They confessed to the doctor that examined them.

-They confessed to the Human Rights Commissioner.

I'm pretty sure that at least the confession to the HRC had "human rights involved"

Gee Booboo, ya think they might have been scared and intimidated maybe? Jail is not the safest place to be when you're in enemy territory.

So what makes you think that after their confessions they would be safe in jail anyway? Seems to me that would be the perfect time to bump them off if that was their plan, and not before they confessed.

Just put them in a cell with some shady characters doing life for murder, promise them a double helping for a week of Fish Head Soup and Rice, then...suddenly, case closed and nobody saw anything.

Which media is going to care or try to investigate or help 2 self confessed murders and rapists?

[ffaarraanngg]

.

You mean the confessions that were taken under duress and torture, behind closed doors, with no video or audio record or transcript which were later recanted when they got media and human rights involved. Ok.

The investigation's evidence does not relate to the footage? Well no shit sherlock, or they would have used it. The defence is more than justified in asking why it wasn't examined. Thats half the point - the defence needs to question areas of the investigation that are contentious, or things that were ignored.

ANd again with your DNA evidence - they have still to bring this out. And if they have it on stock, but don't have the original swabs, how can that be verified??

I mean all the confessions that we know of.

-They confessed to the police investigators.

-They confessed to representatives of the Myanmar Embassy and their lawyers.

-They confessed to the doctor that examined them.

-They confessed to the Human Rights Commissioner.

I'm pretty sure that at least the confession to the HRC had "human rights involved"

Gee Booboo, ya think they might have been scared and intimidated maybe? Jail is not the safest place to be when you're in enemy territory.

So what makes you think that after their confessions they would be safe in jail anyway? Seems to me that would be the perfect time to bump them off if that was their plan, and not before they confessed.

Just put them in a cell with some shady characters doing life for murder, promise them a double helping for a week of Fish Head Soup and Rice, then...suddenly, case closed and nobody saw anything.

Which media is going to care or try to investigate or help 2 self confessed murders and rapists?

If there was justice in the world such a crime would happen to excuse for human beings like yourself as opposed to these decent young adults.

Edited July 25, 2015 by ffaarraanngg

[StealthEnergiser]

Follow the trail- we know they were in the AC bar- what happened there? Was there an altercation or not? Then what happened next- timelines and witness interviews. This case is solvable. There is always a motive. The defense needs to do their own independent investigation. Someone will eventually crack. Why would 2 Burmese workers murder 2 foreign tourists? They would have had no motive.

I agree with everything you say except for the last sentence, you dont need a motive if youre influenced by drugs or alcohol and want to sexually rape and even murder

Doesnt matter if they are Burmese, Thais or other people. People are ebeing murdered on a weekly basis in Thailand and most of the killings happens under the influence of drugs.

Yes you might be right but why on earth if they did it would they hang around afterwards. Let's be honest anyone doing this particularly the Burmese would get the hell out of there . Also why, and it's very clear it's happened would the Thai mafia on the Island bother to shut everybody up and lean on translators etc for Burmese who they look on as low life. No it's doesn't make sense in any shape or form. And I don't feel this was about rape so much as I agree with many other posters it was about face. This also was carried out by psychos who more than likely have done similar before. This was a brutal brutal act.

I agree when even translatars are threatened and you see tweets like this it really makes you think how many people are behind and how far does the cover up go.

Edited July 25, 2015 by StealthEnergiser

[BritTim]

Could those of you who were brave enough to view the pictures of Hannah and particularly David confirm that the injuries to him could have been made by the blunt end of a hoe!! From everything I have seen and taken in his injuries were not consistent with a implement like that. I'm sure somebody will confirm or deny the possibility. Thanks

There was no wound to the back of David's head. There were a couple of wounds on the side of the head, but most of the wounds (similar looking) are on the front.

To my eyes, the pattern of David's wounds are consistent only with a protracted fight. The wounds do not look consistent with a blunt instrument.

The only possible explanation I can concoct (and concoct is the word) is that the single blow from behind that incapacitated David and left him to drown in the sea left no mark (being a blow in an area covered by hair from a blunt instrument) and the visible wounds were inflicted by sharp shells or other objects after he fell. Realistically, the RTP story is a load of round objects.

[Calimotty]

Good police work in Thailand consists of beating the crap out of people to force false confessions.

Oh and he who dies with the most tea money wins.

[GOLDBUGGY]

Since I just came back from Burma, I think i will take my guitar down to the beach and smoke my burmese ciggarettes that I just brought back with me as I don't like the Thai ones from the Seven, actually I can't afford them on the pay they give me so I very happy to get some today.

Oh, I better take a condom with me as well as I might get lucky when I drunk I can have falang girl so I got to be carefull don't leave DNA,(actually I dont know what is DNA)

I take Hoe with me as well as maybe trouble with boyfriend and need to make the sand look nice when I finish or get the sack from big boss man.

Good Idea! Then you can report back to us if your embassy sends you free lawyers. If they send your parents to your trial and put them up for a few months. That the Farang Girl you raped and murder has there embassy send a special investigative team to see you are treated fairly and the case is being handled fairly.That someone holds a fund raiser for you. That you are treated better in Myanmar Prison System then you would be in Thailand.

[T_Dog]

Here is a Nation article early in the investigation. There was also a more specific article in Thai PBS English version but can't seem to find it.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-free-bar-owners-and-look-for-ex-village-hea-30243997.html

[Heisenbergg]

Follow the trail- we know they were in the AC bar- what happened there? Was there an altercation or not? Then what happened next- timelines and witness interviews. This case is solvable. There is always a motive. The defense needs to do their own independent investigation. Someone will eventually crack. Why would 2 Burmese workers murder 2 foreign tourists? They would have had no motive.

Not only that, but we're to believe the victims were in AC bar and the owner has zero clues as to what may have happened? It's your bar, your a big boss, you don't know a single thing about what happened?

Mon's notorious face on the beach with the police that morning looks guilty. Adding to that, there is CCTV to show who came and went from that dump, Yet it's "missing"... No, it's a grande scheme at this point. Only thing left to learn is how much worse this can get for Thailand?

I think people in the UK and U.S. Just aren't surprised by this anymore, it's so hard to look at you kind of just say "well that's Thailand" and plan to never go there/never go again.

It's 2015, South Africa has a better judicial system for christs sake. And, fellas... If you haven't.. Consider finding Heidi Anna on Facebook and donate to the defense... 500 baht means much more than you think.

[IslandLover]

Goldbuggy

How can one respond to someone who after nearly one year doesn't even know who is on trial here? The RPT are not on trial here, nor is Thailand, the people on trial here are 2 Migrant Workers accused of a double Murder, Rape, and Robbery. They are the ones who need defending, and not the RTP. I have no connection to any police force in the world or anyone on this Island, that I did not even know existed a year ago. My opinions are strictly opinions which I try to base mostly on fact and not social media gossip, and my agenda is to shed some light on some twisted facts.

Your very wrong with this statement. While sure the B2 are on trial so is the RTP and the Thai justice system. Everybody and I mean everybody has a story about extortion and cover ups and graft in these areas. So are you denying that extortion isn't carried out by RTP on a hourly basis and that these same authorities aren't responsible or turn a blind eye to most of the criminal activity in Thailand.

And as for for the poor workers in Kao Tao and other Islands do you really thing that the powers that be care about them one bit.

No to them it's just cheap labour from a compromised race who even after employment get deductions and have to pay for so many things that should be taken for granted. You didn't see the Sky reporter live interviewing a Burmese worker on KT. Saying everyone there has to pay to the mafia just to have the right to be there. No, the people running KT don't care one bit about Burmese workers.

Which makes me ask why would the same powers that be lean so heavily on translators and such like if it was Burmese involved.

That's illogical in every way.

This Extortion started in Myanmar, and not in Thailand, when the 2 accused paid good money to someone to be smuggled here and become Illegal Aliens in Thailand in the first place. You can scream and shout at the top of your lungs about Workers Rights,but the reality of it all is they don't have a right to be here in the first place, and thus are not entitled to have Workers Rights. The same as in your country.

When you start out with shady people in the first place, call them mafia if you like, you are stuck with them until the end. Trafficking in Women, Trafficking with Illegal Alien Workers, is almost the same same my friend. How many women and girls get smuggled over the border for the sex trade in different parts of the world? But the big money always starts in their own country.

But this is not on trial here. That goes to the World Court. This case is about a Double Murder and Rape of 2 innocent victims and trying to determine without reason doubt who did this.

Lets see what this retesting of this DNA brings.

Actually YOU are Wrong.

One of the accused had papers to work as was not an illegal

This Extortion started in Myanmar, and not in Thailand, when the 2 accused paid good money to someone to be smuggled here and become Illegal Aliens in Thailand in the first place. You can scream and shout at the top of your lungs about Workers Rights,but the reality of it all is they don't have a right to be here in the first place, and thus are not entitled to have Workers Rights.

GB neglects to say anything about the Muslim Rohingya roti vendor who acted as translator and alleged torturer of the B2 and appeared to be working for the RTP. How much did he pay to get into Thailand? How did he get into Thailand? Does he have papers?

Edited July 25, 2015 by IslandLover

[minikev]

Apologize if this has been posted before but this is the first time I've seen an extra day added to the trial and we also have confirmation that Dr Pornthip will attend for the defense.

SURAT THANI The head of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science will testify in defense of two Burmese men accused of killing two British backpackers in southern Thailand last year.

Judges ruled on Friday to add an additional day to the trial to allow for CIFS director Pornthip Rojanasunand to take the witness stand at Koh Samui Provincial Court on 11 September. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437793064&section=12

Just have to wait for certain posters now to come along and discredit her some more..yawn

She discredited herself by her actions. This is a completely justified claim, as she continues to insist that empty plastic boxes, made in the garden shed of confidence tricksters who are now in an English jail for fraud, work as bomb , drug and human remains detectors, through methods "that science can't explain".

You can be very convinced that the case against the two Burmese seems flimsy and incompetent, and still be appalled at the calling of such a person as a defence witness.

There is no discrepancy between wanting the accused in this case to have the best defence possible, and distrusting the objectivity and expertise of one of the defence witnesses. I would not want her defending me, in a case where influence could be brought to bear on her by the people who gave her her job back.

This would appear to be a face-saving strategy since the headman's brother is now arrested and the son is being pursued. Having Pornthip discover the discrepancies and bring them to light is far better than foreigners doing it.

Have I missed something here?? Or is this a mix up of quotes etc from back last year??

I also think a mix up.

[loonodingle]

Could be, at the end of the day its not the prosecutions decision to have her stand witness, its was asked for by the defense, we already know the defense has very significant new evidence to present to the court at the right time, perhaps it will coincide with this. Currently I trust the defense teams decision to ask her to stand

I hope there's not a mistrial declared before the defense have their turn to present what they have. It wouldn't surprise me if charges are dropped just before Sept. 1st, when the defense get their turn at bat. By that time, the prosecution and RTP will already have made such a mess of things, that the court probably won't want to see officialdom suffer any more. A 'coup de grace' if you will, to put them out of their self-orchestrated misery.

I'd like to see what the defense has, and care not a whit about alleviating the gross loss of face the RTP and prosecution are bringing upon themselves - particularly if it might lead to RTP being more professional (and less inclined to finger scapegoats) in the future. And I'm not sorry if they make less money by being honest.

But they need to have someone found guilty of this crime, so it is very possible these 2 were to be found guilty no matter what.

If they're found not guilty it means finding the actual culprits which i just can't see happening.

It would not surprise me one bit if they turned up dead in their cells. End of case and a result for the Polee. Face saved.

[GOLDBUGGY]

A lawyer contracted by the Burmese embassy to defend two Burmese migrants accused of murdering a British couple on the Thai island of Koh Tao said the men confessed to the crimes on Monday, but told the legal team they had been tortured.

Officials from the Burmese embassy in Bangkok on Monday travelled to the neighbouring island of Koh Samui to meet the two Arakanese migrants who have been remanded in custody pending murder and rape charges. The embassy officials, led by second secretary Htun Aye, were accompanied by Thai and Burmese lawyers, as well as migrant rights activists. The embassy said Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun signed over power of attorney to the legal team contracted by the embassy.

Today, [Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun] signed power of attorney to the embassys legal team, said lawyer Aung Myo Thant on Monday. We will try to offer them any assistance we can from a legal perspective.

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol. When asked for further details, they said they bashed the victims two or three times each with the blunt end of a hoe, but not with the sharp end. They said they did it because they were drunk but did not intend to kill the couple.

Under what type of threat? Any threat from RTP is a credible one to these guys. Also, their statement given to this embassy official is inaccurate. One victim was not killed with a hoe.

Are the 2 accused trained Doctors that they would know that when they hit David Miller with the Hoe, or any other weapon that was not found, and he was laying unconscious face down in the Ocean, that the didn't kill him this way? That he drowned instead? Hell! Even a trained doctor wouldn't know that unless he really checked closely. .

They were probably as surprised about this news of David drowning as the rest of us were.

[StealthEnergiser]

people may have seen this but its a link to tlc news with some of the first photo's of hannah clothes on the beach and the hoe.

http://news.tlcthai.com/news/367556.html

[AleG]

But they need to have someone found guilty of this crime, so it is very possible these 2 were to be found guilty no matter what.

If they're found not guilty it means finding the actual culprits which i just can't see happening.

It would not surprise me one bit if they turned up dead in their cells. End of case and a result for the Polee. Face saved.

That was prophesied since they were arrested, it was fear mongering then and it is fear mongering now.

[loonodingle]

Could those of you who were brave enough to view the pictures of Hannah and particularly David confirm that the injuries to him could have been made by the blunt end of a hoe!! From everything I have seen and taken in his injuries were not consistent with a implement like that. I'm sure somebody will confirm or deny the possibility. Thanks

There was no wound to the back of David's head. There were a couple of wounds on the side of the head, but most of the wounds (similar looking) are on the front.

To my eyes, the pattern of David's wounds are consistent only with a protracted fight. The wounds do not look consistent with a blunt instrument.

The only possible explanation I can concoct (and concoct is the word) is that the single blow from behind that incapacitated David and left him to drown in the sea left no mark (being a blow in an area covered by hair from a blunt instrument) and the visible wounds were inflicted by sharp shells or other objects after he fell. Realistically, the RTP story is a load of round objects.

Tim You are incorrect about the wound. I have PM'd u.

If anyone wants to see the wounds PM me and I will send them over then u can judge for yourself. Let me know if you want both victims or just David