Koh Tao: Suspects found guilty of murdering British backpackers

[iReason]

"The foreign minister warned the media to not dig into suspicious issues in the police investigation of the murder case"

Interesting choice of words.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/media-told-not-to-revive-doubtful-issues-regarding-the-murder-of-british-backpackers-in-koh-tao

[DiscoDan]

What you say about serial killers may be right. However the B2 had no previous convictions which to an average person would mean that they are not serial killers. The RTP announced at the time of the arrests the B2 had no criminal records. If they were the sort of people you allege then there would be dozens of corpses all over Koh Tao because the B2 had been working there for some time. Instead there are only a handful of unexplained deaths locally, plus assisted suicides, and only one was female. hardly the work of necrophiles.

By FBI definition they are.

" the FBI’s change in 2005 to a minimum of two murders with no reference to motive or timeframe"

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/shadow-boxing/201304/defining-serial-killer-so-much-confusion

go read up on ted bundy, staging or posing of bodies also signature killings this crime scene would have never been profiled as a crime from a angry person or loss of face.

[B166ER]

....some of you out there are starting to ask the right questions....look....big things have small beginnings. This is a classical example.

[dundee48]

From the Judge's verdict report via KhaoSod

The two defendants said they suddenly had the idea of going swimming in the sea on their way back to the residence. It was in the dead of the night, and it was raining slightly. It is unimaginable that any person would have made this decision, unless they wanted to erase the evidence on their shirts and bodies.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451042373

In the crime scene photos you will also see there are big fishing boats in the bay the reason they are there is because they were sheltering from a storm that night, this also means that it would of been a extremely dangerous and slow trip to make in a speedboat which also rules out the Nomsod got on a speedboat and made it to Koh Samui in an Hour and a half and got on a plane.

We have meteorological experts in our midst as well,we are so blessed on this forum.Case closed.

[iReason]

The "captain" of the speedboat, The Happy Duck, that left Koh Tao early the morning of the murders, was found hiding in a cave on Koh Samui.

He was interrogated by local "police".

Seen here, in hand cuffs:

Edited December 26, 2015 by iReason

[bunglebag]

From the Judge's verdict report via KhaoSod

The two defendants said they suddenly had the idea of going swimming in the sea on their way back to the residence. It was in the dead of the night, and it was raining slightly. It is unimaginable that any person would have made this decision, unless they wanted to erase the evidence on their shirts and bodies.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451042373

In the crime scene photos you will also see there are big fishing boats in the bay the reason they are there is because they were sheltering from a storm that night, this also means that it would of been a extremely dangerous and slow trip to make in a speedboat which also rules out the Nomsod got on a speedboat and made it to Koh Samui in an Hour and a half and got on a plane.

Was there a storm? None of the cctv from that night looked particularly stormy. There was a beach party outside ac bar that night, the sea in the pictures of the crime scene taken early that morning did not look particularly bad. As I understand it there was strong onshore wind that night. Fishing boats would need to throw anchor if they want to sleep or rest, and they would not do that with a strong onshore wind - they would all go round the sheltered side. The only fishing boats around were the trawlers much further out to sea. However there are several dive boats moored in the bay which have staff sleeping on them, who could easily swim ashore etc. There was a picture from the morning of the murders I believe showing some of the dive boats in the bay and the closest diving boat was a pink one, owned by AC bar.

Edited December 26, 2015 by bunglebag

[rudy h]

What you say about serial killers may be right. However the B2 had no previous convictions which to an average person would mean that they are not serial killers. The RTP announced at the time of the arrests the B2 had no criminal records. If they were the sort of people you allege then there would be dozens of corpses all over Koh Tao because the B2 had been working there for some time. Instead there are only a handful of unexplained deaths locally, plus assisted suicides, and only one was female. hardly the work of necrophiles.

" staging or posing of bodies also signature killings this crime scene would have never been profiled as a crime from a angry person or loss of face.

[smedly]

ok, I cannot read through 160 posts since I was on here last, can someone (stealth) send me a pm if there is anything noteworthy, I have read about the protests so up to speed with that one

I just checked my DNA and it is mine - honestly

night

[rudy h]

What you say about serial killers may be right. However the B2 had no previous convictions which to an average person would mean that they are not serial killers. The RTP announced at the time of the arrests the B2 had no criminal records. If they were the sort of people you allege then there would be dozens of corpses all over Koh Tao because the B2 had been working there for some time. Instead there are only a handful of unexplained deaths locally, plus assisted suicides, and only one was female. hardly the work of necrophiles.

"go read up on ted bundy, staging or posing of bodies also signature killings this crime scene would have never been profiled as a crime from a angry person or loss of face".

Not sure if I understand your take about staging or posing of the bodies. Have you viewed the crime scene fotos? The manner in which Hannah's face was so brutally disfigured and the positioning of her legs shows someone was really pissed off at her not only kill her but to utterly humiliate her in the worst possible way. David on the other hand had some facial injuries but nothing remotely close to Hannah.

If I were to guess, David must have stumbled upon the scene because no screams were heard if David were to have been attacked first in front of Hannah, surely she would have screamed.

Since the person or persons were not pissed off at David, they drowned him instead of mutilated him.

What message was the killer sending doing this to Hannah?

Edited December 26, 2015 by rudy h

[idannyb]

The flaws include lack of chain of custody in evidence

If the DNA chain of custody is flawed, the DNA is unreliable. The criminal court brushed this aside, saying each department handling the evidence had its own chain of custody procedure. As the conviction was based primarily on the DNA (the other basis being David's mobile phone was with one of the defendants), doubt as to the guilt of the defendants was established, rendering the verdict reversible. Hopefully the appellate and/or Supreme Court will see through the trial court's failure to properly rule on this issue.

Have to wonder why defence never called their DNA expert (Jane Taupin) to testify? Appears they had ability to shred prosecution's DNA case http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35170419

"Jane Taupin, a renowned Australian forensic scientist brought in by the defence team, questioned the plausibility of working this quickly, saying extracting DNA from mixed samples was difficult and time-consuming.

Ms Taupin was not allowed to testify, one of several inexplicable decisions by the defence, but she highlighted several important aspects of DNA testing which neither the defence team, the police, nor the judges appeared to understand."

[smedly]

The flaws include lack of chain of custody in evidence

If the DNA chain of custody is flawed, the DNA is unreliable. The criminal court brushed this aside, saying each department handling the evidence had its own chain of custody procedure. As the conviction was based primarily on the DNA (the other basis being David's mobile phone was with one of the defendants), doubt as to the guilt of the defendants was established, rendering the verdict reversible. Hopefully the appellate and/or Supreme Court will see through the trial court's failure to properly rule on this issue.

Have to wonder why defence never called their DNA expert (Jane Taupin) to testify? Appears they had ability to shred prosecution's DNA case http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35170419

"Jane Taupin, a renowned Australian forensic scientist brought in by the defence team, questioned the plausibility of working this quickly, saying extracting DNA from mixed samples was difficult and time-consuming.

Ms Taupin was not allowed to testify, one of several inexplicable decisions by the defence, but she highlighted several important aspects of DNA testing which neither the defence team, the police, nor the judges appeared to understand."

I must admit to some confusion over this myself, I thought that she didn't testify because there was no dna evidence actually submitted to the court by the prosecution so even if she took the stand she would have had nothing to contribute or talk about apart from some generalisations, my guess is she went away pondering about how unusual it was to convict someone for murder based on DNA without actually presenting anything in court, perhaps she is yet to appear now that everything is in the open

Edited December 26, 2015 by smedly

[bbbbooboo]

poor bugger...he would have to think that, to try and make sense of the enormous tragedy that has happened to him and his family

[NongKhaiKid]

So many questions but very few answers and that's not likely to change.

Thailand isn't big on investigative journalism at the best of times and in the current climate who would risk pulling this case apart with all the inherent criticism ?

[Aj Mick]

It is interesting to reflect upon where the investigation started, in the light of what has transpired. This is from Thai PBS; 23 Sept 2014:

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

"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."

"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."

[idannyb]

It is interesting to reflect upon where the investigation started, in the light of what has transpired. This is from Thai PBS; 23 Sept 2014:

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

"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."

"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."

Indeed ... original suspects were both sons of 'village headman' ... "He (Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen) said both suspects were captured by CCTV cameras and the police have gathered enough evidence to implicate them in the murders". ... and later these favored sons were exonerated and police found the two migrant workers who were ultimately prosecuted and convicted.

[Artisi]

Following the demonstrations at the Thai Embassy in Yangon, I'm wondering if there is going to be a similar backlash from the migrant population on Koh Tao?

It's just possible that this verdict will be the catalyst that opens a few peoples mouths or brings about retribution Burmese style...

Not that I would condone violence...

Be good to see them all go on strike.

Better if they packed up and departed on the first available boat....

[greenchair]

What? what is your point..

The Prosecutor said he got the confirmation from a UK official, so unless he flew to the UK then that can only mean the UK Embassy in Thailand!

In either case he did NOT get the confirmation from the UK official ever.

Do you not understand the simple fact "he NEVER got the confirmation from any UK official in Thailand or the UK or anywhere else" clearly he made that up, clearly if a prosecutor is making up facts to suit his case he is in the wrong job.

hope this helps..

You still don't get it do you?

This is from an article on August 29th

The Thai police have testified in court that a police liaison officer at the British Embassy in Bangkok helped officers prove the phone belonged to murdered Jersey tourist, David Miller, aged 24, through its unique IMEI number.

However such assistance would have breached UK legal regulations, which prevent any assistance to a foreign case that might end in the death penalty.

Mr Millers body was found alongside that of Norfolk student Hannah Witheridge, 23, on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in September last year.

The smashed iPhone, which was not previously submitted as evidence by the prosecution to the court, but was allegedly found near the lodgings of one of the defendants, was finally submitted yesterday, 12 days into the trial.

Andy Hall, a British migrants activist who is working with the defence team said: It arrived at the court along with documents showing that the Thai Attorney General had appealed to the head of the Metropolitan Police team, which compiled its own report on the murders, for information on who owned the mobile phone, but was told no help could be given unless the Thai government guaranteed not to apply the death penalty.

However the Thai government does not have the power to waive the death penalty, as capital punishment is still legal in Thailand at the discretion of the court.

Hall says the documents showed that a formal application was placed anyway by the Royal Thai Police, via the Thai Attorney General, but that no further information was enclosed.

The bundle of documents returned with the telephone did include letters written by the prosecutor in Koh Samui, asking the police to cancel any liaison on the phone issue with the UK and return the telephone to them without the ownership confirmed.

On Thursday, Police Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen testified that the police had received verbal confirmation from the UK authorities that the phone belonged to Mr Miller, but nothing in writing.

Earlier this week a UK court ruled that the report by the Metropolitan Police could not be shared with the defendants and their lawyers for the same reason: because the two Myanmar workers could face the death penalty if convicted.

HOWEVER 6 WEEKS LATER:

As the trial entered the final two hours yesterday, the prosecution took receipt of a package from the Thai Embassy in London which prosecutors said confirmed that the unique identifying [iMEI] number of a phone found near the lodgings of Wai Phyo belonged to Mr Miller.

What is wrong with you?

What you posted supports my assertion that there was no confirmation from UK Officials..

"The Thai police have testified in court that a police liaison officer at the British Embassy in Bangkok helped officers prove the phone belonged to murdered Jersey tourist, David Miller, aged 24, through its unique IMEI number.

However such assistance would have breached UK legal regulations, which prevent any assistance to a foreign case that might end in the death penalty."

Do you not understand the simple fact "he NEVER got the confirmation from any UK official in Thailand or the UK or anywhere else" clearly he made that up, clearly if a prosecutor is making up facts to suit his case he is in the wrong job.

Doesn't matter if the UK confirmed the number or not. Wei po himself said he and Muang Muang went back to the beach at 5 o'clock in the morning to look for shoes they left behind. Wei po said they separated and he amazingly found the phone on the beach as he was walking. How many phones do you think would be laying on the beach. If the possessions of the victim is in the hands of a person , that creates a direct link between victim and person. Originally we only knew Muang Muang woke up b2 in the morning. Now we know 2 of them went back to the crime at 5am looking for their belongings. And by the way, if you said your belongings were stolen when you were swimming, why would you go back to look for them? ?? They were there. I really don't understand why Muang Muang was let go.

[IslandLover]

Mises, on 26 Dec 2015 - 18:01, said:Mises, on 26 Dec 2015 - 18:01, said:

As the leader of a specialist group here in Chiang Mai I have been actively publicising this case to my group's membership, asking them to support the defence team's funding and care of the boys whilst in custody. The news of the verdict greatly shocked me and then statement by the brother of one of the victims disturbed me even more.

As Nigeone implies: something just doesn't add up. Has he seen something no-one reporting the case has seen - perhaps something in the UK's Metropolitan Police report, which they've refused to publish publicly or the UK Coroner's report, yet to be published publicly? I can think of no other logical explanation for making such a strong statement of support for the verdict, but he certainly needs to explain himself in view of all that has been publicised and reported by many reliable media sources who've followed the case.

Michael Miller appears to be both misinformed and ill-informed. His statement: He [David] was hacked down from behind dragged into the sea and left to die rather gives this away. It seems Michael Miller does not know about the wounds on David's front shoulder and neck. Have they done another autopsy in Guernsey?

And what was Hannah doing while the B2 dragged David to the water? Waiting quietly? Or slowly moving 20m away and lying down between two rocks with her legs in the water ready to be raped and bludgeoned? Hannah was already dead or unconscious when bludgeoned. You cannot hit a moving target dead centre with a heavy hoe. And she would have defended herself with her hands. She was not held down, how do you hold someone whilst another strikes her face with a hoe without being in the way and how do you hold their head straight? In any event she could not have been held down from the side as the rocks are too close.

Like many others have said, I have no idea whether the B2 were involved but the official story just does not pass muster.

Why was David naked apart from one sock whilst Hannah was fully clothed (albeit in disarray) apart from her panties?

Why was Hannah's body arranged in that pose?

What happened to the condom found with supposedly Hannah's DNA on the outside and no DNA on the inside?

What happened to Hannah's clothes?

What happened to the shoe found at the scene? Whose was it? It was not either of the B2's. I recall there was also mention of some black trousers found at the scene.

Why did the Thai authorities initially say there was no sign of Hannah having been raped? A view later confirmed by the British Autopsy.

Michael Miller appears to be both misinformed and ill-informed. His statement: He [David] was hacked down from behind dragged into the sea and left to die rather gives this away. It seems Michael Miller does not know about the wounds on David's front shoulder and neck.

This was just a repeat of the mantra of the RTP and the prosecution. It bears no relation to the reality of what happened to David. Obviously the Miller family have not seen some of the crime scene photos I have. David also had defensive wounds to his hands (confirmed by the Thai autopsy) which meant he must have faced his attackers at some point. His DNA was found on the handle of the hoe as well which would indicate some sort of a struggle. No, he was not simply hacked from behind and disabled.

Edited December 27, 2015 by IslandLover

[StealthEnergiser]

Follow

Robert Holmes‏@riverview810

@SZarifi @AbbottKingsley @W7VOA main focus of the appeal must centre around the DNA analysis..clearly inadmissible in competent court.

Follow

Robert Holmes‏@riverview810

@peterwalker99 peter it's much more than how it was collected. It's how it was allegedly analysed...impossible to obtain profile in 19 hours

Follow

Robert Holmes‏@riverview810

@IanYarwood_Law @pakhead Jonathan's article summed it up. I don't know who killed these poor people but I do know the DNA evid is flawed

[Briggsy]

There is the possibility that along with being consistently, skilfully and egregiously deceived by the Thai police, Michael Miller wanted to do anything, say anything that would provide consolation to the person standing next to him, his mother.

[idannyb]

Such a sham job. These poor boys did not need a defense team, they needed a political team like the one from the Ferrari driving red bull heir because it's not about what you know, it is who you know in Thailand. Money has nothing to with it, ask Mr Billionaire.

There was absolutely no "convincing" motive for the b2 to get so riled up for the raping, defiling, and double murder.

The b2 had been on the island for about 2 years, surely they had witnessed this behavior before and on this tragic night they decided to act? It does not add up.

Who had the motive to be pissed off at Hannah? That person or persons had the power to recruit accomplices and was able to skew the investigation. A policeman, a politician, someone in power on the island?

If your street wise look at the photo of the uncle. Why would he chase Sean and threaten violence?

If the good General can't control a little island, the future of Thailand is surely doomed when the next great moment of time comes to pass for Thailand.

Sean McAnna's (friend of David Miller) anecdote highlights Koh Tao's dark elements and the islanders' desire to pin the murders on a convenient outsider ... McAnna theorized the three who threatened his life may know who committed the murders. According to McAnna;

""Three of them sat me down and started asking me questions, and I was a bit drunk so I was answering them," the island thugs then accused him of murdering Miller and Hannah Witheridge, telling McAnna, "you're going to hang yourself tonight - we're going to watch you hang."

Two Thai men were later questioned by police about the incident but they were not arrested. The police chief said he would guarantee the McAnna's security while he remained on Koh Tao. But McAnna was not the least bit reassured; "I need to get off this island... I thought that was the day I was going to die. I genuinely thought that this was me dead. That I was gone."

[StealthEnergiser]

Follow

Robert Holmes‏@riverview810

@Journotopia @pakhead @ThaipbsEngNews suspicious.where's the evidence they tested 200 workers. Labs couldn't cope. No evidence cig butt test

Follow

Andy Hall‏@Atomicalandy

@IanYarwood_Law @riverview810 @peterwalker99 @pakhead @MimiSawitta @olireports crucial issue if police lab had ISO17025, never any evidence

[rudy h]

Such a sham job. These poor boys did not need a defense team, they needed a political team like the one from the Ferrari driving red bull heir because it's not about what you know, it is who you know in Thailand. Money has nothing to with it, ask Mr Billionaire.

There was absolutely no "convincing" motive for the b2 to get so riled up for the raping, defiling, and double murder.

The b2 had been on the island for about 2 years, surely they had witnessed this behavior before and on this tragic night they decided to act? It does not add up.

Who had the motive to be pissed off at Hannah? That person or persons had the power to recruit accomplices and was able to skew the investigation. A policeman, a politician, someone in power on the island?

If your street wise look at the photo of the uncle. Why would he chase Sean and threaten violence?

If the good General can't control a little island, the future of Thailand is surely doomed when the next great moment of time comes to pass for Thailand.

Sean McAnna's (friend of David Miller) anecdote highlights Koh Tao's dark elements and the islanders' desire to pin the murders on a convenient outsider ... McAnna theorized the three who threatened his life may know who committed the murders. According to McAnna;

""Three of them sat me down and started asking me questions, and I was a bit drunk so I was answering them," the island thugs then accused him of murdering Miller and Hannah Witheridge, telling McAnna, "you're going to hang yourself tonight - we're going to watch you hang."

Two Thai men were later questioned by police about the incident but they were not arrested. The police chief said he would guarantee the McAnna's security while he remained on Koh Tao. But McAnna was not the least bit reassured; "I need to get off this island... I thought that was the day I was going to die. I genuinely thought that this was me dead. That I was gone."

Sean admitted he was jacked up on the juice and this is why he cannot clearly state what he knows or what happened in his presence.

Uncle Mon

http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/96/09/69/20141009/ob_465f0e_kohtaomontriwat2.jpg

And uncle Mon with Mr Policeman with a shot Sean managed to take:

http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/96/09/69/20141009/ob_592ef7_kohtao.jpg

And the accused:

http://cdn1.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486x302/public/2014/10/09/win-saw.jpg?itok=QnIlQ6BT

What pair would you face down in a dark alley?

[HenryC]

"trumps" - we are not playing paper, rock, scissors!

[catterwell]

The IMEA is not usually hard printed on the phone. It's in the software. To see it, the phone needs to be working and you press *#06# , but there may be ways to extract it from a dead phone,

So the UK Embassy did not give the Prosecutor the confirmation and he made it up..
Or the UK Embassy, in contravention of it's own code, did give the Prosecutor the confirmation, and the UK official lied when he said they hadn't..


SO which phone was this for?
The one police said had finger prints and was Hannah's, the one (with blonde hair) they said they found immediately after the crime was discovered, or the one they claim they found near where the Burmese lived?

How did the police manage to get the IMEI from a smashed phone? Is it even from the same phone that the Burmese man said he found?

They've released many other photos, is there a photo of this phone showing the IMEI. I understand that some iPhones have the IMEI in different locations on the phone.. where exactly was the IMEI taken from in this phone.


How is it confirmed to be the same IMEI?
Did they hand over the IMEI to David's family and they confirmed it?
Or did they ask for David's IMEI from the phone company then compared the 2 numbers?

Would a phone company hand over such information? the EU has some strong information disclosure rules, one could not simply ask "phone company" for the IMEI and expect to get it..

It appears odd to me that the relatives family should be supplying information to the police to help a conviction where there is a death sentence unless they are seeking revenge. In which case I'd find any of their actions questionable .

So let's assume that it is David's phone, and that the Burmese man did say he had it (I've only seen some vague press reports that he said anything)
As I said this appears to be the strongest evidence I've seen related to this case, but on its own, all it means is that the Burmese man took David's phone. Not really enough to execute.

Do you know what an IMEI code is and where (in many places) it can be found?

I know exactly what an IMEI..


Are you that blinded by your own eagerness to see these 2 men convicted that you cannot even read my post?

"I understand that some iPhones have the IMEI in different locations on the phone.. where exactly was the IMEI taken from in this phone."

jog on.

[VincentRJ]

Detective stories are usually fascinating for most people, and these murders at Koh Tao could eventually be the subject of a very successful movie, although such a film would likely be banned in Thailand.

I usually refrain from commenting on situations like this because it's so difficult to separate fact from innuendo and speculation.

For example, I have the impression (rightly or wrongly) that the Southern police chief, Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen, was transferred to another region in Thailand soon after he announced that the first suspects were the sons of the Village Headman.

This in itself raises immediate suspicions that some interference from higher up, is taking place. But what are the facts? What are the complete circumstances of Panya Mamen's transfer? Perhaps he'd already requested a transfer before this crime on Koh Tao took place and would have relinquished his job as Southern Police Chief on an agreed date regardless of any criminal events that took place in the meantime.

On the other hand, one might speculate, if it was true that Panya Mamen's transfer date was already agreed before the murders took place, then it would have been wise to change that date, after the murders had taken place and the investigation begun, in order to avoid any suspicions of interference.

For all we know, someone higher up might have suggested to Gen Mamen that he postpone his transfer in view of the fact that the Koh Tao murder investigation had begun. Perhaps Gen Mamen had argued that he'd been waiting two years for the transfer and did not want to wait any longer.

Who knows? I can't find much, or any, reliable information on the internet about the circumstances of this initial turn of events.

[CP3]

The IMEA is not usually hard printed on the phone. It's in the software. To see it, the phone needs to be working and you press *#06# , but there may be ways to extract it from a dead phone,

The original box has those information

[smedly]

What? what is your point..

The Prosecutor said he got the confirmation from a UK official, so unless he flew to the UK then that can only mean the UK Embassy in Thailand!

In either case he did NOT get the confirmation from the UK official ever.

Do you not understand the simple fact "he NEVER got the confirmation from any UK official in Thailand or the UK or anywhere else" clearly he made that up, clearly if a prosecutor is making up facts to suit his case he is in the wrong job.

hope this helps..

You still don't get it do you?

This is from an article on August 29th

The Thai police have testified in court that a police liaison officer at the British Embassy in Bangkok helped officers prove the phone belonged to murdered Jersey tourist, David Miller, aged 24, through its unique IMEI number.

However such assistance would have breached UK legal regulations, which prevent any assistance to a foreign case that might end in the death penalty.

Mr Millers body was found alongside that of Norfolk student Hannah Witheridge, 23, on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in September last year.

The smashed iPhone, which was not previously submitted as evidence by the prosecution to the court, but was allegedly found near the lodgings of one of the defendants, was finally submitted yesterday, 12 days into the trial.

Andy Hall, a British migrants activist who is working with the defence team said: It arrived at the court along with documents showing that the Thai Attorney General had appealed to the head of the Metropolitan Police team, which compiled its own report on the murders, for information on who owned the mobile phone, but was told no help could be given unless the Thai government guaranteed not to apply the death penalty.

However the Thai government does not have the power to waive the death penalty, as capital punishment is still legal in Thailand at the discretion of the court.

Hall says the documents showed that a formal application was placed anyway by the Royal Thai Police, via the Thai Attorney General, but that no further information was enclosed.

The bundle of documents returned with the telephone did include letters written by the prosecutor in Koh Samui, asking the police to cancel any liaison on the phone issue with the UK and return the telephone to them without the ownership confirmed.

On Thursday, Police Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen testified that the police had received verbal confirmation from the UK authorities that the phone belonged to Mr Miller, but nothing in writing.

Earlier this week a UK court ruled that the report by the Metropolitan Police could not be shared with the defendants and their lawyers for the same reason: because the two Myanmar workers could face the death penalty if convicted.

HOWEVER 6 WEEKS LATER:

As the trial entered the final two hours yesterday, the prosecution took receipt of a package from the Thai Embassy in London which prosecutors said confirmed that the unique identifying [iMEI] number of a phone found near the lodgings of Wai Phyo belonged to Mr Miller.

What is wrong with you?

What you posted supports my assertion that there was no confirmation from UK Officials..

"The Thai police have testified in court that a police liaison officer at the British Embassy in Bangkok helped officers prove the phone belonged to murdered Jersey tourist, David Miller, aged 24, through its unique IMEI number.

However such assistance would have breached UK legal regulations, which prevent any assistance to a foreign case that might end in the death penalty."

Do you not understand the simple fact "he NEVER got the confirmation from any UK official in Thailand or the UK or anywhere else" clearly he made that up, clearly if a prosecutor is making up facts to suit his case he is in the wrong job.

Doesn't matter if the UK confirmed the number or not. Wei po himself said he and Muang Muang went back to the beach at 5 o'clock in the morning to look for shoes they left behind. Wei po said they separated and he amazingly found the phone on the beach as he was walking. How many phones do you think would be laying on the beach. If the possessions of the victim is in the hands of a person , that creates a direct link between victim and person. Originally we only knew Muang Muang woke up b2 in the morning. Now we know 2 of them went back to the crime at 5am looking for their belongings. And by the way, if you said your belongings were stolen when you were swimming, why would you go back to look for them? ?? They were there. I really don't understand why Muang Muang was let go.

that is all fine and dandy if the IMEI number checked was the phone found at the residence and not the phone found at the crime scene and put on display days after the murders, can anyone here actually confirm which was which ?, and if true - who owned the phone originally put on display found at the crime scene, the simple EMEI number that was submitted could have belonged to either of these phones, unfortunately there is no way to confirm this either

Oh and might I also add that there is no evidence of either of these phones being checked for finger prints - a simple test that cannot be faked and is easily verified, they could also have been checked for dna (but not going there) and call history checked and put on display for each phone - the carrier records the emei number against all network activity - but know nothing like that was done because it is all verifiable evidence - now we wouldn't want that now would we

Edited December 27, 2015 by smedly

[idannyb]

Statement on behalf of the family of Hannah Witheridge

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1450938246

Witheridge family seem understandably cautious about any endorsement of the trial outcome. Last half paragraph is noteworthy; "We found listening to proceedings very challenging and we have had to endure a lot of painful and confusing information. We now need time, as a family, to digest the outcome of the trial and figure out the most appropriate way to tell our story.”

[DM07]

Why are you RTP- fanboys are going on about the phone?

Didn't the judge clearly stae, that the DNA-"evidence" clearly "trumps" everything else?!

So...DNA it is!

But I guess, even the most ignorant, bloodthirsty and arrogant of your team see, that the DNA- "evidence" is a bunch of bovine excrement - no chain of custody, no verifiable data, no possible retesting, DNA gone or "used up", most probably no rape occurred, hoe was untouched by the B2 - so you are basically clutching at straws!

There simply is NOTHING that actually and free of any doubt connects the B2 to the murder and the rape.

And IF (giant IF) there is evidence, the public does not know about: why the frog would that exist?

Anyone?