Koh Tao murders: 2 DNA profiles from alleged murder weapon do not match defendants' DNA

[webfact]

Thai Murders: DNA 'Does Not Match' Defendants

KOH SAMUI: -- The trial of the men accused of killing two British backpackers hears DNA on the murder weapon does not match the defendants.

A forensics team says DNA found on the murder weapon used in the killing of two British backpackers in Thailand does not match that of the two defendants.

The bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach on the holiday island of Koh Tao last September.

Prosecutors say Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, had been raped and beaten. Mr Miller, 24, from Jersey, drowned in the sea after suffering head injuries.

Burmese bar workers Zaw Lin and Wei Phyo, both 22, have pleaded not guilty.

Full story: http://news.sky.com/story/1550571/thai-murders-dna-does-not-match-defendants

-- skyNEWS 2015-09-11

[webfact]

https://twitter.com/pakhead/status/642202002634743808

[newcomer71]

I guess there's not much to defend about the RTP disaster... Speechless.

[hereforgood]

So they should walk I would guess

[nev]

Let them go now, it is plain as day that these two Burmese lads are just scapegoats, the sad thing is the real killers are still out there.

[StealthEnergiser]

Lack of Evidence, Local Media Coverage Adds to Mystery of Koh Tao Murder

Last week, a partially blind Burmese beach cleaner told the court he spotted the garden hoe at the scene before police arrived, and returned the tool to its normal spot nearby. Upon police's request, he later retrieved the hoe, which he said he was unaware was covered in blood.

“The garden hoe yielded no DNA traces and no fingerprints, according to police,” said the defendants’ lawyer, Nakhon Chompuchat. “But we think there should be something left.”

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436774626&typecate=06&section=

[canopus1969]

Let them go now, it is plain as day that these two Burmese lads are just scapegoats, the sad thing is the real killers are still out there.

Agreed - with compensation !

[007cableguy]

The RTP defenders will come along soon pleading a conspiracy !

[heybuz]

who would have thought,and here i was thinking it was a watertight case,silly me

[MaxLee]

https://twitter.com/pakhead/status/642202002634743808

Now, run, run, run for your life, Dr. Porthip,... the mafia is gonna witch hunt you now....

Edited September 11, 2015 by MaxLee

[fritzzz25]

I do think there are about 6 posters that need to eat some humble pie and admit that the witch hunt is over.

[heybuz]

Lack of Evidence, Local Media Coverage Adds to Mystery of Koh Tao Murder

Last week, a partially blind Burmese beach cleaner told the court he spotted the garden hoe at the scene before police arrived, and returned the tool to its normal spot nearby. Upon police's request, he later retrieved the hoe, which he said he was unaware was covered in blood.

“The garden hoe yielded no DNA traces and no fingerprints, according to police,” said the defendants’ lawyer, Nakhon Chompuchat. “But we think there should be something left.”

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1436774626&typecate=06&section=

how blind was he, sounds very convenient

[BritTim]

The hoe probably held DNA from the beach cleaner/gardener. The other very likely was from whoever used the hoe to dismantle Hannah's head. Obviously, finding out who that DNA belongs to is very important. Also critical is finding out which other weapons were used. That does not mean the fantasy hammer (never found) or wine bottle (random glass fragments from beach never tested).

[craigt3365]

I think Thailand would be better off just canceling this case now and let the defendants go. It just keeps getting worse and worse....

[Tatsujin]

Can we please go back and get the Mafioso family that runs the island DNA tested now?

[bamukloy]

Is it just me, or is this somewhat confusing?

The DNA on the hoe would most likely be the victims,no?

The article seems to insinuate there is unknown DNA on it,

yet it doesnt go as far as to say the DNA doesnt belong to the victims either.

It also doesnt state that the DNA was sourced from blood or otherwise

Logic would have it, if the DNA wasnt blood based, it could be DNA from the gardener or anyone that used the hoe for gardening or whatever innocent purpose.

But surely they would already have taken the DNA of the gardener to exclude from the evidence pool?

[AleG]

So they should walk I would guess

Why should they? If the prosecution was using a DNA match between the two defendants and the murder weapon yes they should. But that's not what they are basing their case on, the DNA results could be from any other person that handled the hoe before or after the murders.

[thailandchilli]

We were expecting some breaking news from Dr Pornthip but this is more explosive than I thought, and we have still got to hear the other evidence from the UK! There's enough now to call a complete halt to these unjust and farcical proceedings

[AleG]

Is it just me, or is this somewhat confusing?

The DNA on the hoe would most likely be the victims,no?

The article seems to insinuate there is unknown DNA on it,

yet it doesnt go as far as to say the DNA doesnt belong to the victims either.

It also doesnt state that the DNA was sourced from blood or otherwise

Logic would have it, if the DNA wasnt blood based, it could be DNA from the gardener or anyone that used the hoe for gardening or whatever innocent purpose.

But surely they would already have taken the DNA of the gardener to exclude from the evidence pool?

Nuance doesn't make good selling headlines.

[007cableguy]

Oh dear look who's here!

[thailandchilli]

http://news.sky.com/story/1550571/thai-murders-dna-does-not-match-defendants

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/11/dna-weapon-not-match-men-accused-killing-british-tourists-thailand?CMP=share_btn_tw

Disgraceful

[thailandchilli]

Oh dear look who's here!

I reckon the RTP have given up so somebodies got to bat for them I suppose

[stephenterry]

Is it just me, or is this somewhat confusing?

The DNA on the hoe would most likely be the victims,no?

The article seems to insinuate there is unknown DNA on it,

yet it doesnt go as far as to say the DNA doesnt belong to the victims either.

It also doesnt state that the DNA was sourced from blood or otherwise

Logic would have it, if the DNA wasnt blood based, it could be DNA from the gardener or anyone that used the hoe for gardening or whatever innocent purpose.

But surely they would already have taken the DNA of the gardener to exclude from the evidence pool?

if you READ one report it said DNA of two males found on the hoe, neither of which were the defendants. One could be the gardener. I doubt anyone took his DNA.

I would suggest that if either of the defendants DNA had handled the murder weapon, their DNA could also have been on it.

Edited September 11, 2015 by stephenterry

[amerasianex]

They do not need evidence to convict them. The prisons are full of people who were convicted with no evidence.Its up to the defendants to prove they are innocent. Thats how this system works

[BritTim]

So they should walk I would guess

Why should they? If the prosecution was using a DNA match between the two defendants and the murder weapon yes they should. But that's not what they are basing their case on, the DNA results could be from any other person that handled the hoe before or after the murders.

One set of DNA is almost certainly from the beach cleaner/gardener. It is highly probable that the other is from the assailant who smashed Hannah's head in. It is clutching at straws to suggest otherwise.

At any rate, it appears the "perfect investigation" using a magnifying glass to check for DNA, was not quite as effective as real forensic analysis.

[StealthEnergiser]

Thai beach killings: Expert questions DNA evidence

DNA from a garden hoe allegedly used to kill two British tourists on a Thai island does not match samples taken from two men accused of the killings, a court in the country has heard.

Forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand also criticised a failure to analyse blood found at the scene.

David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, were found dead on a beach on Koh Tao last September.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34217544

[uty6543]

I think Thailand would be better off just canceling this case now and let the defendants go. It just keeps getting worse and worse....

It was a good case until they changed the policeman in charge of the investigation.

[thailandchilli]

BBC have got it now to

Thai beach killings: Expert questions DNA evidence

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34217544

[Lupatria]

https://twitter.com/pakhead/status/642202002634743808

Now, run, run, run for your life, Dr. Porthip,... the mafia is gonna witch hunt you now....

Time to call up her body guard again she hired when another water tight case "investigated" by the cops popped like a bubble after her research.

[blowin]

It shows the world how bad the RTP are. But more importantly it shows the corruption that controls Thai society.