Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary

With exclusive images, never-before-seen evidence and interviews with key figures on the island, Murder in Paradise sheds new light on a global news story, putting Thailand under the spotlight and asking whether this is still the travel destination from heaven, or hell?

Source: Channel News Asia

[stephenterry]

Better to wait for the unabridged U.K. version. This one is sanitized and not definitive, or totally accurate.

[z42]

Watched this earlier on, agree with stephenterry above in that it glosses over a lot of the controversial issues. Although I must say that even though I think the B2 are wholly innocent, that Mon's story about why they were attempting to speak to Mon does sound pretty plausible.

The whole thing case continues to stink to high heaven IMO, i'm pretty sure the camera crews and reporters were given some pretty strict parameters to stay within to get such access to some of the people and footage from the documentary.

[Just1Voice]

So disgusting I couldn't even watch it all.

[StealthEnergiser]

Why did it take this officer atleast 40 minutes to call his boss ?

What was he doing with Mon besides telling people to move the murder weapon. ?

Did he testify

Timeline

1.00 am MM was seen on CCTV on the motorbike at 1am

1.26am David is recorded walking from the club AC

1.56am Returns to Club AC

3am-4am Friends say David & Hannah left club according to police.

3.44am running man

4.00 am WP testified that he was out looking for his clothes

4.30 am MM is seen on CCTV

4.49 am Running Man

4.51 .25 big beard man with woman

5.40am "O testified he found bodies must have called Mon

5.30am Doctor Testified this was the estimated time of the deaths.

5.45am

Mon must have called Sergeant Major Apichet Cherdguea

5.55 approx arrival time Sergeant Major Apichet Cherdguea

6.10 am O was approached by the resort’s boss and a policeman who told him to put on a pair of gloves and return it to the scene, which he did.

6.30am Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao, said he received a call by a fellow officer.

6.35am Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao arrived at the beach and swiftly cordoned off the area.

8.00 am Dr Chasit Yoohat comes to the scene.

9.00 am Dr Chasit Yoohat left the scene

10am Dr Chasit Yoohat returned when he examined the bodies.

Pol Lt Jakkrapan Kaewkhao Testified the clothes were piled neatly. “photo’s show different.

Pol Lt Jakkrapan Kaewkhao, 26, head of the Koh Tao public service centre, was the first prosecution witness to testify in the murder case of British backpackers David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the resort island in the early hours of Sept 15 last year.

The officer identified Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun to the court as the accused. Later, in cross-examination, he admitted he had not been involved in such a case before.

Lt Jakkrapan said he saw a body later identified as Mr Miller's at the water's edge at Sai Ree beach in front of the King Chulalongkorn statue, so he decided to move him to higher ground.

About five metres away, behind some rocks, lay a female body, later identified as Miss Witheridge.

The woman's skirt was pulled up to her waist, Pol Lt Jakkrapan told the three-member panel of judges. Bloodstains and human flesh was spotted on the rocks.

He believed the areas where he saw flecks of blood on the sand were likely to be where Miller was assaulted.

He found a metal part of a shovel, a wooden stick, and three cigarette butts about 60m north of Miss Witheridge.

A used condom, grey pants with a belt, a pair of canvas shoes, and a pair of pink sandals were piled neatly nearby.

- See more at: http://www.thephuket...h.y8KUird2.dpuf

[Lammbock]

Yet the true Killers continue to live on that Island.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Lammbock

[Dan NZ]

Just watched it. Looked to me to be a balanced report. In the time constraints they had, 45 minutes then you could not expect much else. On the whole worth watching. I thought the new footage they claim they had of the confession was fairly damning but if the suspect had been tortured first as claimed then he would have done anything told, particularly after being shouted at by one of the cops.

[Islandlife]

First normal story about this case

[iReason]

“The parents of a British holiday maker (Nick Pearson) who died in suspicious circumstances in Thailand are convinced he was murdered – and the killing covered up to protect tourism.”

“Despite being warned to keep quiet by people on the island, the family have refused to be silenced.”

“She added: “The Police didn’t look at his room or the area where he was found. There was no attempt to investigate.”

"They spent most of their time laughing and joking as we asked questions.”

“Tracy said her son Matt was warned there are “powerful people on the island”, and that the family should leave rather than stirring up trouble.”

“They also heard other holiday makers had died on the island and their bodies “thrown into the water in the hope they’d be washed away”.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/thailand-beach-death-parents-convinced-4410135

[fab99]

I just can't believe people still visit this island when there are so many alternative without this really macabre background.

Just look at the statistics in the last 2 years, not only the suspicious deaths but also the various diving accidents.

This documentary didn't really bring anything new for those already familiar with the case, but hopefully it helps raise awareness about the dangers of this place, and maybe people will think twice about going there.

[greenchair]

I thought it was quite a good video. It does leave out that there were other evidences also presented to the court, you should know what I'm talking about.

David's family sat in on most of trial. They seem like a fairly level headed people, his statement was very powerful.

In Wei Phyo confession enactment, it does not seem that his answers are being coerced at all. All in all after seeing the above 2 points, the video has confirmed what I have known for some time now.

They are where they should be.

[IslandLover]

iReason, on 02 Mar 2016 - 14:14, said:

“The parents of a British holiday maker (Nick Pearson) who died in suspicious circumstances in Thailand are convinced he was murdered – and the killing covered up to protect tourism.”

“Despite being warned to keep quiet by people on the island, the family have refused to be silenced.”

“She added: “The Police didn’t look at his room or the area where he was found. There was no attempt to investigate.”

"They spent most of their time laughing and joking as we asked questions.”

“Tracy said her son Matt was warned there are “powerful people on the island”, and that the family should leave rather than stirring up trouble.”

“They also heard other holiday makers had died on the island and their bodies “thrown into the water in the hope they’d be washed away”.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/thailand-beach-death-parents-convinced-4410135

I was most surprised to see the parents of Nick Pearson interviewed on camera. It added weight to the documentary. Another revelation was that Luke (yes, Luke not David) Miller didn't die from drowning as the Thai authorities are claiming.

[JeezeLooeze]

A translation of a Facebook post

Edited March 2, 2016 by JeezeLooeze

[fab99]

I thought it was quite a good video. It does leave out that there were other evidences also presented to the court, you should know what I'm talking about.

David's family sat in on most of trial. They seem like a fairly level headed people, his statement was very powerful.

In Wei Phyo confession enactment, it does not seem that his answers are being coerced at all. All in all after seeing the above 2 points, the video has confirmed what I have known for some time now.

They are where they should be.

You should go to an optician for this tunnel vision, quite alarming...

I would be curious to know how you would act in a reenactment in a foreign country with a fake translator if you and your family had been threatened of the worst possible death and you know very well that the threats are real because your life has absolutely no value to the people making them.

But hey, you possibly didn't see the several proofs of torture shown on this video, the police said no physial trace of torture was recorded (which is not true by the way, one of the B2 complained about pain to a doctor) but the best kind of torture is the one that leaves no trace.

The RTP refused to go to multiple interviews concerning these alegations of torture.

Edited March 2, 2016 by fab99

[iReason]

"A 26-year-old British man (Luke Miller) was found dead Friday morning in a hotel swimming pool on Koh Tao, police say."

“He must have climbed to the roof of a [nearby] DJ booth, jumped off, and his head hit the swimming pool floor, killing him,” (Police Lt Col Napha Senathip) said.

“Police also found small wounds on his face that they believe were caused by barbed wire around the DJ booth as he climbed to the roof, said Napha”

“The tourist’s body is now awaiting autopsy at Surat Thani Hospital”

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452340518

It appears Police Lt Col Napha Senathip had it all wrapped up before there even was an autopsy…

[catsanddogs]

Why did it take this officer atleast 40 minutes to call his boss ?

What was he doing with Mon besides telling people to move the murder weapon. ?

Did he testify

smac.jpg

Timeline

1.00 am MM was seen on CCTV on the motorbike at 1am

1.26am David is recorded walking from the club AC

1.56am Returns to Club AC

3am-4am Friends say David & Hannah left club according to police.

3.44am running man

4.00 am WP testified that he was out looking for his clothes

4.30 am MM is seen on CCTV

4.49 am Running Man

4.51 .25 big beard man with woman

5.40am "O testified he found bodies must have called Mon

5.30am Doctor Testified this was the estimated time of the deaths.

5.45am

Mon must have called Sergeant Major Apichet Cherdguea

5.55 approx arrival time Sergeant Major Apichet Cherdguea

6.10 am O was approached by the resort’s boss and a policeman who told him to put on a pair of gloves and return it to the scene, which he did.

6.30am Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao, said he received a call by a fellow officer.

6.35am Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao arrived at the beach and swiftly cordoned off the area.

8.00 am Dr Chasit Yoohat comes to the scene.

9.00 am Dr Chasit Yoohat left the scene

10am Dr Chasit Yoohat returned when he examined the bodies.

Pol Lt Jakkrapan Kaewkhao Testified the clothes were piled neatly. “photo’s show different.

Pol Lt Jakkrapan Kaewkhao, 26, head of the Koh Tao public service centre, was the first prosecution witness to testify in the murder case of British backpackers David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the resort island in the early hours of Sept 15 last year.

The officer identified Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun to the court as the accused. Later, in cross-examination, he admitted he had not been involved in such a case before.

Lt Jakkrapan said he saw a body later identified as Mr Miller's at the water's edge at Sai Ree beach in front of the King Chulalongkorn statue, so he decided to move him to higher ground.

About five metres away, behind some rocks, lay a female body, later identified as Miss Witheridge.

The woman's skirt was pulled up to her waist, Pol Lt Jakkrapan told the three-member panel of judges. Bloodstains and human flesh was spotted on the rocks.

He believed the areas where he saw flecks of blood on the sand were likely to be where Miller was assaulted.

He found a metal part of a shovel, a wooden stick, and three cigarette butts about 60m north of Miss Witheridge.

A used condom, grey pants with a belt, a pair of canvas shoes, and a pair of pink sandals were piled neatly nearby.

- See more at: http://www.thephuket...h.y8KUird2.dpuf

Friends said Hannah and David left the bar between 3 and 4 am. Yet the documentary says they left around 2.15am together to the beach. Who are we to believe? The nameless 'friends' or the information from the documentary? Neither source is reliable as there are no names behind what is and has been said. All this would be so much clearer if police had been transparent and named who saw what and when. Must be a reason they have not made this clear.

[iReason]

@Post #14

And of course fab99, there is this:

"Defence lawyer Nakhon Chomphuchat said: “They only showed a 12-minute video portraying the confession."

“But there had been hours of interviews before that video which were not shown to the court.”

"The court also heard Phyo had no legal advice during questioning or the video re-enactment."

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1539622/mother-sobs-over-backpacker-murder-re-enactment

[fab99]

@Post #14

And of course fab99, there is this:

"Defence lawyer Nakhon Chomphuchat said: “They only showed a 12-minute video portraying the confession."

“But there had been hours of interviews before that video which were not shown to the court.”

"The court also heard Phyo had no legal advice during questioning or the video re-enactment."

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1539622/mother-sobs-over-backpacker-murder-re-enactment

Yes, of course, the reenactment was rehearsed before, and the B2 were said to be subject to very serious threats with no legal representation so what they said can't be trusted at all, that is the way it is.

Plus the scenario used in this simulacre of reenactment isn't credible anyway :

> the victims, who were not intimate according to their friends, having sex just outside their hotel (there is no evidence of this sexual activity between the victims by the way which is an important part of the scenario though as it creates an element of surprise for the B2 and a "motive")

> two under 1.5m burmese men able to kill David who was more than 1.9m tall and then rape Hannah without alerting anyone

> there probably was more than one murder weapon, David's blood was not on the hoe and his multiple small wounds are suspicious

...

Edited March 2, 2016 by fab99

[bannork]

Wondering about the DNA of 2 unknown Asian men on the hoe, how many times was that hoe handled before Khun Porntip tested it?

[IslandLover]

catsanddogs, on 02 Mar 2016 - 15:47, said:catsanddogs, on 02 Mar 2016 - 15:47, said:

Friends said Hannah and David left the bar between 3 and 4 am. Yet the documentary says they left around 2.15am together to the beach. Who are we to believe? The nameless 'friends' or the information from the documentary? Neither source is reliable as there are no names behind what is and has been said. All this would be so much clearer if police had been transparent and named who saw what and when. Must be a reason they have not made this clear.

There was only one person who has come out in public and said anything about Hannah and David leaving the AC bar, and that was Tom Wood who was with Hannah, Emma and Matt Barratt in the AC bar that night. He said in a facebook post dated 3 December 2014 "Hannah and David went their separate ways, I assume to the beach". No time was stated.

It was somewhat disappointing that the documentary posed the "sex on the beach" theory when everyone connected with David and Hannah has said that they were not romantically involved. Furthermore the investigation revealed that none of David's DNA was found on Hannah. In addition, a female tourist who was with the group in Choppers bar has said that Hannah was interested in some guy from Manchester (Wood and Barrett are both originally from Manchester, but one, or both, now lives in Australia).

Edited March 2, 2016 by IslandLover

[iReason]

@Post #19

You mean the hoe that did not have the defendant's DNA on it, right?

[Nicolas32]

With Thai Government on attack and making things hard for foreign media in Thailand things are going to get more interesting over the coming months with Thailand / Media ..

Edited March 2, 2016 by Nicolas32

[fab99]

Wondering about the DNA of 2 unknown Asian men on the hoe, how many times was that hoe handled before Khun Porntip tested it?

They talk about two men DNA on the hoe, they don't mention Asian I think , but these were the initial results of the tests conducted during the trial (the hoe hadn't been tested before the trial by the RTP, could you believe that? the -alleged- murder weapon, not tested...).

The second set of results reported during the trial gave more precisions if I recall correctly and it was mentioned that both victims DNA was on the handle of the hoe (which could mean they had it in their hands according to the expert) and another unidentified male (only a 25% match with one of the B2 which everybody knows isn't even close to a significant result). Didi they even try to match it with the owner of the hoe, I struggle to see how his own DNA wouldn't be on it...

I wonder why the documentary only talked about the first results.

But personaly I don't believe the absence of anybodys DNA on the hoe is a complete proof of innocence (the presence of DNA though would have been daming for the B2), I think you don't necessarily leave your DNA when you handle a hoe, but what I find strange though is the fact that :

> the victims DNA were on the handle which could mean they handle it, again contradicting the RTP scenario relying on the element of surprise to explain how two shorts guys could attack the 2 victims

> the absence of David's blood one the blade of the hoe is particularly strange, how is it possible? I and many others believe that there was more than one murder weapons, and it is simply not normal that more attention is not given to this.

Edited March 2, 2016 by fab99

[catsanddogs]

Wondering about the DNA of 2 unknown Asian men on the hoe, how many times was that hoe handled before Khun Porntip tested it?

They talk about two men DNA on the hoe, they don't mention Asian I think , but these were the initial results of the tests conducted during the trial (the hoe hadn't been tested before the trial by the RTP, could you believe that? the -alleged- murder weapon, not tested...).

The second set of results reported during the trial gave more precisions if I recall correctly and it was mentioned that both victims DNA was on the handle of the hoe (which could mean they had it in their hands according to the expert) and another unidentified male (only a 25% match with one of the B2 which everybody knows isn't even close to a significant result). Didi they even try to match it with the owner of the hoe, I struggle to see how his own DNA wouldn't be on it...

I wonder why the documentary only talked about the first results.

But personaly I don't believe the absence of anybodys DNA on the hoe is a complete proof of innocence (the presence of DNA though would have been daming for the B2), I think you don't necessarily leave your DNA when you handle a hoe, but what I find strange though is the fact that :

> the victims DNA were on the handle which could mean they handle it, again contradicting the RTP scenario relying on the element of surprise to explain how two shorts guys could attack the 2 victims

> the absence of David's blood one the blade of the hoe is particularly strange, how is it possible? I and many others believe that there was more than one murder weapons, and it is simply not normal that more attention is not given to this.

I and many others believe that there was more than one murder weapons, and it is simply not normal that more attention is not given to this.

Yes, many others believe there was more than one weapon, including the police. I also believe this. In the first few days after the murders it seemed police couldn't make their minds up but then 10 days or so later there comes confirmation that there was a second weapon. Just like the conflicting reports about when Hannah and David left the AC bar and whether they were together or not when they left, the investigation of whether there was a second murder weapon is a total balls up. Most people seem to agree that David's injuries could not have been inflicted by the blunt end of the hoe. Maybe the second murder weapon that has never been discovered (or said not to have been discovered) was the weapon that killed both of them and the hoe was used after they had been murdered in the set up. No DNA of the B2 on the hoe and surely the autopsies would have been able to ascertain whether an implement made of wood and rusting left any residue of materials on and in the victims. I guess not for the Brit autopsies because anything incriminating in the wounds of the deceased would have been removed during the Thai autopsy just as officials made sure Hannah's clothes could never be tested by anyone else by disposing of them. Anyone with a shrivelled pea size brain can see the whole investigation and court case is lie after lie after lie. Maung Maung, where are you to tell the true story?

19th Sept 2014 - Police Colonel Kissana admitted it was difficult to say if the killers were still on Koh Tao and the force was unable to confirm if there was more than one murder weapon.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/19/thailand-murders-hannah-witheridge-david-miller-police

18th Sept 2014 - Police have reportedly recommended that they do not see their bodies as the “damage from the murder weapon, a hoe, has made the young tourists’ faces unrecognisable”.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/british-tourist-murders-on-koh-tao-thailand-police-probe-dna-to-hunt-killer/news-story/ae2a29100d33facdf5ef1de6b98bc8b0

He said investigators believe there was more than one attacker and more than one murder weapon.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/09/18/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/thailand-says-dna-match-yet-two-slain-britons/#.VtcZxX2LS6Z

24th Sept 2014 Two items - a heavy garden hoe and a piece of wood - have been identified as the murder weapons.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29339436

23rd Sept 2014 - However they have confirmed that two weapons were used to kill the pair - which led them to believe they are hunting at least two people. - : http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/koh-tao-murders-police-confirm-2-murder-weapons#sthash.X5gPEwUx.dpuf

[iReason]

"Thai police believe at least three "attackers" were involved in the vicious murders of two British backpackers whose semi-naked bodies were found on a tourist island on Monday."

"Evidence gathered from witnesses and the crime scene, including DNA traces found on cigarette butts left near the bodies, now suggests the involvement of more than two people, police say."

"From the available evidence, we believe that there were more than two attackers," Police Lieutenant General Panya Mamen was quoted as saying by Thailand's The Nation newspaper"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11108188/Three-attackers-involved-in-Thai-island-murders-police-say.html

[iReason]

"A masked vigilante yesterday stood up in a swell of protesters and said he has evidence that can prove the innocence of two Myanmar men sentenced to death in Thailand."

"The man claimed to be a migrant worker recently returned from Thailand who was near the scene of the crime at the time of the murders."

“I can only say what I know about the Koh Tao case to Interpol without Thai police intervention due to fears for the safety and security of my friends and the other workers in Koh Tao,” said the man, who wore a cloth to obscure his face."

“I don’t believe the Thai police. I know about the relationship between police and gangs over there.”

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/18341-masked-man-at-koh-tao-rally-demands-meet-with-interpol.html

[AleG]

First normal story about this case

Which apparently needs to be counteracted by a barrage of propaganda, rumor mongering and wild speculation here...

[AleG]

I thought it was quite a good video. It does leave out that there were other evidences also presented to the court, you should know what I'm talking about.

David's family sat in on most of trial. They seem like a fairly level headed people, his statement was very powerful.

In Wei Phyo confession enactment, it does not seem that his answers are being coerced at all. All in all after seeing the above 2 points, the video has confirmed what I have known for some time now.

They are where they should be.

It's obvious that WP is not being instructed on what to say, they asked hims which way he approached the victim, how many times he hit with the hoe, etc...

On the other hand in the clip at the prison when the reporter asks them if they killed Miller and Witheridge it is the translator (or rather handler I'd say) who immediately answers for them without even giving them time to speak.

Edited March 2, 2016 by AleG

[AleG]

"A masked vigilante yesterday stood up in a swell of protesters and said he has evidence that can prove the innocence of two Myanmar men sentenced to death in Thailand."

"The man claimed to be a migrant worker recently returned from Thailand who was near the scene of the crime at the time of the murders."

“I can only say what I know about the Koh Tao case to Interpol without Thai police intervention due to fears for the safety and security of my friends and the other workers in Koh Tao,” said the man, who wore a cloth to obscure his face."

“I don’t believe the Thai police. I know about the relationship between police and gangs over there.”

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/18341-masked-man-at-koh-tao-rally-demands-meet-with-interpol.html

... and then disappeared never to be heard of again...

[AleG]

A translation of a Facebook post

There's two problems with that obvious fabrication, one that the victims were staying in separate rooms, which they shared with their friends, second that nobody who was at the bar has ever said anything about any confrontation, let alone the salacious one made up by the author of that piece of misinformation.