Koh Tao: Suspects found guilty of murdering British backpackers

[jcsmith]

What a farce.

[bim]

A detailed version of why some feel this trial was flawed. Thailand beach murders: A flawed and muddled investigation - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35170419

[stoneyboy]

The Miller family have given a statement on Sky News.

Stating they are happy with the decision and that the investigation has been thoroughly undertaken and the verdict is the correct one.

[ldiablo]

And so the bubble pops...

The people saying that no evidence was presented are in complete denial, the main evidence against them, DNA found inside the rape victim was presented by the prosecution and not contested in any meaningful way by the defense.

Would like to see the judges' rationale on how they arrived at the verdict.

The judge is supposed to put in writing the rationale behind the decision, I hope someone takes the time and effort to translate it into English, in toto and without creative interpretations or convenient omissions as it has been the norm for the press work on issues related to this case.

The defence requested samples of the DNA for independent testing but officers failed to retrieve the samples and one officer suggested they had been destroyed.

[brewsterbudgen]

The Miller family have given a statement on Sky News.

Stating they are happy with the decision and that the investigation has been thoroughly undertaken and the verdict is the correct one.

Unfortunately I doubt this verdict will bring the closure the victims' families deserve.

[Bernard Flint]

For all u non believers, watch bbc and see the brother and family make a statement, nothing but praise for the justice system, they have been there for many months, visiting the ocurts, not you keyboard warriors that want to knock Thailand at every opportunity. the burmese guys had top lawyers paid for by an activist group, how pathetic, activisits are idiots.

[007cableguy]

Truly disgusting!!!

[NextStationBangkok]

Very sad day. I hope the human rights group and defense lawyers group will fight back in the next court.

[anon7867763]

For all u non believers, watch bbc and see the brother and family make a statement, nothing but praise for the justice system, they have been there for many months, visiting the ocurts, not you keyboard warriors that want to knock Thailand at every opportunity. the burmese guys had top lawyers paid for by an activist group, how pathetic, activisits are idiots.

here we go, the troll is back !

[ldiablo]

For all u non believers, watch bbc and see the brother and family make a statement, nothing but praise for the justice system, they have been there for many months, visiting the ocurts, not you keyboard warriors that want to knock Thailand at every opportunity. the burmese guys had top lawyers paid for by an activist group, how pathetic, activisits are idiots.

This coming from a guy that doesn't even know that Thailand doesn't have a jury system. Back under your rock...

[ChrisY1]

When the PM says he agrees with the police that they were guilty, way back 12 months ago, what can anyone expect from the judges.....

IMO, a travesty of justice, but I guess in reality, I don't know every detail....

[NongKhaiKid]

Now let's see what the PM has to say although I've an idea what it may be.

He praised the investigation from the very outset, was to reward the BIB etc so i'm sure everyone will be told to respect the verdict.

[MaxLee]

So saddened by this miscarriage of justice. I kind of expected this, but still had hoped in the end the guys would be exonerated.

"Woe to those...who acquit the guilty for a bribe,

and deprive the innocent of his right!" -Isaiah 5:23

Under this current regime AND ITS INFLUENTIAL SUPPORTERS, nobody in the tiny chickening justice system would dare to make those powers lose face and risk their sorry a***** lives into their own death by misadventure....

[peptidebomber]

For all u non believers, watch bbc and see the brother and family make a statement, nothing but praise for the justice system, they have been there for many months, visiting the ocurts, not you keyboard warriors that want to knock Thailand at every opportunity. the burmese guys had top lawyers paid for by an activist group, how pathetic, activisits are idiots.

Says the guy who thinks there were jurors. Troll

[Jonathan Fairfield]

[Oziex1]

I was hoping against hope that this wouldn't happen.

The criminal elite run the country.

[Bluespunk]

Seems justice is not only blind but also deaf, dumb, corrupt and willing to do anything to find a convenient truth as well.

[phitsanulokjohn]

Evidence flawed from the start.Now 2 innocent men must die so Thailand can save face.Words fail me.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand beach murders: A flawed and muddled investigation

By Jonathan Head

BBC South East Asia correspondent

SAMUI:-- From the moment their bodies were discovered on a Thai beach on 15 September last year, the investigation into the deaths of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller has been a muddled affair.

Information from the police has been hazy, contradictory and sparse.

Hannah, 23, from Norfolk, and 24-year-old David, from Jersey, were found bludgeoned to death on the southern island of Koh Tao.

The first officers on the scene were local police with rudimentary training and apparently no idea how to seal off a crime scene, with tourists wandering through it for days afterwards.

Thailand's best known forensic scientist, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, whose institute was not allowed any involvement in the investigation, testified at the trial that the crime scene had been poorly managed and evidence improperly collected.

Instead of limiting their comments to what they knew about the crime, the Thai police police threw out a barrage of speculation about who the culprit might be. It could not have been a Thai, they said at first, and focused their efforts on the Burmese migrant worker community.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35170419

-- BBC 2015-12-24

[spidermike007]

Many of us expected this conclusion. The fact that there was a trial at all, and that they were not sent directly to prison for life, as would have been the case in North Korea or perhaps China or Cuba, led some of us to believe that there was at least the possibility of justice. After all of the facts were revealed, it appears the judges were influenced, and told to come to this conclusion. When told, they listen. No possibility of judiciary impartiality in a non democracy, right?

These guys were as innocent as they come. And most of us know who committed the crime. And he is free as a jaybird. Want to take wagers on how long it is until his next victims will fall?

[Maggusoil]

Anyone surprised

No. Dead men can't tell tales.

[cumgranosalum]

I find it difficult to express my dismay that this trial ever went to court.

I hope the international community takes the time to fully express their concerns to those concerned.

Merry Christmas!

[docshock13]

Would like to see the judges' rationale on how they arrived at the verdict.

Like this?

Or fear for their lives if they did not deliver a judgment that was deemed acceptable by BKK in protecting national interests.

[NCC1701A]

I wonder why they did it?

[Bluespunk]

For all u non believers, watch bbc and see the brother and family make a statement, nothing but praise for the justice system, they have been there for many months, visiting the ocurts, not you keyboard warriors that want to knock Thailand at every opportunity. the burmese guys had top lawyers paid for by an activist group, how pathetic, activisits are idiots.

I assume the trial was in Thai?

How good is the family's Thai?

[Maggusoil]

When the PM says he agrees with the police that they were guilty, way back 12 months ago, what can anyone expect from the judges.....

IMO, a travesty of justice, but I guess in reality, I don't know every detail....

Be careful. You are very close to criticizing the government. We have been warned about that.

[alphaflight]

We safe, Thailand safe..........

[glenmohr]

A detailed version of why some feel this trial was flawed. Thailand beach murders: A flawed and muddled investigation - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35170419

The BBC summary via Johnathon Head as linked above by bim is a first rate up to the minute account of this sorry affair and a blot on whatever remains of Thailand's reputation

[anon7867763]

We safe, Thailand safe..........

Touris safe

I think not !

[daoyai]

I think I read somewhere that critisizing a judicial decision is against the law... is that accurate?