Click on the link to read my article about it and where to go. The bar owner was fairly high up in one of the mafias and had killed a few Burmese people previously so it didn't surprise me. Police officer gives testimony about bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller who were found dead on a beach on Koh Tao island in September 2014. I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. Thailand backpacker murders: Victim's father weeps at photos Apparently a 50,000 THB ($1,400 USD) fine is what can happen and your passport will be taken from you until the fine is paid. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! They drive like maniacs, think they are untouchable, are often rude and over charge tourists any time they can! May be it is the truth, may be it is a myth. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld On New Years Day in 2014, he was found floating in a bay beneath a 15m cliff. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel and. She has no reason to lie about it. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. Investigators will consider whether the depth of the pool which was around 3m on one end may have led to the couples drowning. One of them was at the scene and I went to talk to him. Burmese people were treated like shit by the Thai. koh tao murders crime scene photos Koh Tao - Thai Police - Their scapegoats, Tourist Trade Exposed by Anonymous Greetings world, We are Anonymous. Elise's bags mysteriously appear to have been loaded onto the ferry she was due to take, and arrived at Chumphon province where she should have caught a bus to the capital. States of Jersey Police said family liaison officers were working with a family and close relatives of the dead man were thought to have been informed. It mostly depends on how you behave yourself. The case has shocked Britain. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. Click here to read about the best things to do in Koh Tao. CAUTION, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS! According to the Lonely Planet travel guides, Koh Tao welcomes thousands of visitors who "come to worship the turquoise waters offshore". The pool was also supposed to be empty, because it was closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions.. The couple tried to escape, hence their bodies being found a short distance away but were chased down, raped and murdered. As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. Let me tell you where you can book one with insurance, so you wont get scammed. solve a crime that made global headlines . On New Years Day in 2015, he was found hanging in a bungalow. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV. Don't get dodgy boat tickets from street vendors. I'm also not a great writer. On Thursday the 29 th of August 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand handed down its decision to uphold the death penalties for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Burmese migrant workers found guilty of the rape and murder of British holidaymaker Hannah Witheridge and the murder of fellow countryman David Miller in September 2014 on Koh Tao in Thailand. I drove to work and on the way saw a small crowd of people gathered to the side of BAR, on the beach. The Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the death of two British nationals on September 15 on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. The victims of the attack in Koh Tao have been named as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth and 24-year-old David Miller from Jersey. And the pain felt by many of their loved ones has been made worse by suspicions of cover-ups in investigating their deaths and disappearances, and that powerful mafia families have tightened their grip on the island. Creepy. Due to many many reasons I doubt the definitive version of the story will ever emerge. Sorry not sorry hostels, but you are. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. So let's look at the facts which I believe to be true. Neill Fronde Wednesday, June 9, 2021. What To Pack For Thailand | Packing List With 40 Things To Bring. Maybe some of the mafia got involved to get them to back off the ladyboy, who is possibly mafia too, add in Meth, violence escalates and now two are dead. Two Burmese bar workers were found guilty of their murders the following year and sentenced to death. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. He said that the victim had been drunk to the extent that he was unable to control himself, he would not have been able to tie himself up so tightly that he died of suffocation. Maybe if it was more common knowledge, the murders wouldn't have happened. The family of Witheridge said in a statement on Wednesday: Hannah was a beautiful person, inside and out, she brought a room alive just being there. Koh Tao: Millionaire couple found dead on Thailand's Death Island The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Becoming a digital nomad through this blog was a dream coming true, of course supported by my 280K Instagram account @Traveltomtom, more than500K TikTok and 50K Facebook family. There was a bar you avoided due to potential violence occurring. I dont know if that is law in Thailand but on Koh Tao, the police can make their own laws. The Thai population were the business owners. In January 2018 a British traveler was found death in a hotel pool along Sairee Beach. I understand that because I am a sporty and fit 1.86 meter (6'1) tall Dutch guy, I might not be the best benchmark for writing an article about how safe it is to travel to Koh Tao. Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. Ugly Truth of 'Land of Smiles Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerarythen have a read in the link. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. Two Myanmar workers on Thursday lost their final appeal against the death penalty for the 2014 murder of a . It reminded me again of the horrible scenes that took place on this pristine island and that will forever be engraved in people's minds. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office has released photos of the Corbett home taken the night Jason Corbett was bludgeoned to death in his bedroom. I believe they met up whilst drunk at a previous bar. For the around 10k people on the island a day, there were 3 police officers who only appeared around holidays. L&M brand which were found near the crime scene matched samples . Photographs appear to show the mobile phone of Hannah Witheridge submitted to police by her friends, despite police claims it was found in one of their suspect's possession. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 but failed to do so. In recent years, however, the unexplained deaths and disappearances of many of those tourists have earned it a reputation as a death trap. Or want to know the best hidden bays or a secret sunrise spot? Just hours before he died, David was talking to us with his usual enthusiasm, describing the beauty of Koh Tao and the friendliness of the Thai people., Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way.. Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary Especially at night just always stay around other people. I regret that the pro bono defense team does not have the $5,500 budget necessary to pay for a proper translation into English. The 25-year-old's mum Tracey told a documentary about the island she would warn parents not to allow their children to travel to the island. Defense lawyers for the two men later alleged that police had rushed the investigation to . I'm also fairly sure that a majority had mafia ties, though this is the one thing me and my friends never spoke about so is pure speculation on my part but makes sense in the context of the murders. and stay away from fighting with locals. A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took . This goes on all day, trying to talk to each other but not wanting the tourists to hear about it, at least not from us. Dont argue with them for too long, dont feel too cool to say sorry and walk away from the scene. Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao, the second police officer at the scene, said he found David Miller face down in the surf and Hannah Witheridge 12 metres away on the beach. Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving an activity the area is famed for among backpackers. It mostly always comes down to your own behaviour and therefore I wrote a Thailand travel guide, with everything you need to know. That sounds like an obvious thing, but on islands where the atmosphere is so extremely chilled it is a very tempting thing to do. Weve all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. Thanks a lot! . I have never seen anyone running around with a gun on the island or heard stories that they knock on your door for a share of your business. Note: in all my continuous travels around the world since December 2012, I have never ran into a bad situation. Killed: Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach in Thailand this morning, Body Found: 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge is from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Tragic Loss: David Miller, 24, is from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Island Paradise: Koh Tao island is an increasingly popular tourist destination. The other question is why were they killed. The father of murdered British backpacker Hannah Witheridge has wept as graphic photos of her body lying on a Thai beach were shown in court. Murder On Koh Tao: The Untold Story - Crime Documentary | Real Life Stories Documentaries Reality TV - Real Life Stories Documentaries 677 subscribers Subscribe 79 views 9 months ago Show. But Koh Taos reputation for crime has already earned it global notoriety, with the couples death the latest on a long death toll. Photo from Sept 15 showing a police officer questioning Christopher Alan Ware, who has re-emerged as a leading suspect in the murder of a young British man and woman on Koh Tao on Monday in. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. We of course want to see those responsible for the brutal murder of our precious girl brought to justice., Millers family said: The act which ended Davids life devastated our family and his friends. The families of the deceased both present for the first time at the hearing have asked for privacy. This is not a specific safety tip for Koh Tao, but everywhere around the world. . In January 2016, he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach. For any of you who have been to Koh Tao, it was the bar on the far end of the yellow brick road, past the Go Pro shop in Sairee. I don't remember exactly the time as it varied constantly between 5 and 9am, but I'm fairly sure it was closer to 5am. She had also heard it was the owner of BAR who had killed them, from a separate source to mine. I genuinely think she is telling the truth. So how safe is Koh Tao? This bar also was the main hangout of the ladyboys. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. And insecure residency tends to breed compliance. Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. Even people you didn't know well, you would know what their reputation was. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. Koh Tao Mafia truth or myth as a tourist you are not willing to get in touch with any of these things, right? The 29-year-old Frenchman was found on January 1, 2015, hanging from his balcony ceiling. Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, from Russia. Koh Tao Murders March 28, 2022 courtneyjfretwell Uncategorized 1 Comment In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. Whatever the reason I didn't see him. Sick crime scene pics of execution-style murder that 'detached victim's But behind paradise lies a grubby underbelly where, according to one report, there are "enough suspicious disappearances to warrant the island its own CSI franchise". These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, from the UK. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. They've gone years doing whatever they want, it doesn't matter who knows. Dont forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. Be a responsible tourist in the first place. Burmese are treated like shit and no one will miss them, easy target so they chose two random guys. The pictures, which News Corp Australia will not reproduce, were taken on the beach at Koh Tao, where the pair was hacked to death with a garden hoe, allegedly by two Burmese men who confessed to the bloody crime then withdrew their confessions. Metropolitan police detectives were sent to Thailand in 2014 to look over the case and report back to officials and the families. For this case to rest, its very important to re-examine that DNA material and find out whose DNA profile it really is, Hall said. Koh Tao Murders: Burmese Suspects Face Dubious Trial | Time There were also other people at the party but I didn't know them well enough to comment on them. My mind boggles when you order a taxi ride that takes about 10 minutes and they charge you $20. What really happened there? But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial. Revealed on Thursday, Elise Dallemange, 30, was found dead in the jungle on the island in April, having been half-eaten by lizards, eight days after she said she was leaving to return to her native home in Belgium. Of course tourists get drunk and alcohol makes you do crazy things. According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as many as 11 Britons have been murdered in Thailand since 2009. In case you do decide to get your own motorbike don't get drunk and then jump on your motorbike. British tourist Christina Annesley dies on Koh Tao in Thailand A big discussion started when I posted a picture on my Facebook Page with the caption that Koh Tao was a peaceful paradise. Almost every tourist that visits Koh Tao is not yet ready to leave at the end of their trip and sails away with mixed feelings: happy to have experienced this little paradise, but sad they have to go already! The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? Blood on the floor of the feedroom where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. The rest were mafia. Elise's heartbroken mother, Michele van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events. Photographs of the bodies . koh tao murders crime scene photos - Sozyaz.com Best Contents 2023 - 2022 I dont believe well ever find out what happened to her. Expats dont want to lose their time in paradise, Earley tells Time, as its cheap, its nice living, and its very easy to ignore what happens". Well if talking about the Koh Tao Mafia here you go. I asked what had happened, he wasn't 100% sure but the bar owner had killed them. on Koh Tao in September 2014. A British man was found dead on Thailand 's notorious Koh Tao - also known as Death Island - on Wednesday. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. I had no issues with them, they had none with me, but a few of the individuals were friendly enough. Apologies in advance for spelling/grammar mistakes and rambling, typing this on my phone. They will also look at any health conditions that might have been a factor. In the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. Dubbed 'Death Island', the illusion of a safe haven has since shattered following the brutal deaths of a number of tourists. Koh Tao is an amazing place to enjoy your holiday and you should be totally fine! They were all run by the book. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. A team of pro-bono lawyers and human rights activists are working as the defence, wearing black gowns and sitting in the court. The 23-year-old had tweeted this picture on Monday, revealing she was on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand 'I have found an affordable bungalow to move to. Like during all your travels around the world the golden rule is: use common sense and when you feel something is not right then walk away from the situation! It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks! They lock them up in a BKK prison and torture them for a confession. In January 2015, she was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics with alcohol. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Thailand's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for two Burmese migrant workers convicted of murdering two British backpackers on a Thai resort island in 2014. No staff were in the area when their deaths happened, Koh Tao police chief Kriangkrai Kraikaew said. RME8CHF9 - Mae Sot, Thailand. Police ruled out foul play but his family believe he was murdered. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Taking a taxi in Koh Tao is simply very expensive, but if you are ready to pay the hefty rates then there is no safety issue here either. About to rent a motorbike? The Koh Tao Murders happened just a couple hours after I was celebrating my birthday on the same beach in the very early morning of September 15, 2014. I have traveled around the islands extensively and would love to help you plan your trip to Thailand. You knew who you could trust, you knew who liked to stir up drama etc. Thai beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's sister Laura dies in hospital Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine. He said autopsies to determine the cause of the deaths were expected in about two weeks. Adventurous and want to hike to the best viewpoints? Her family are suspicious. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were brutally murdered while staying on Koh Tao. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results For the life of me I can't remember the name of the bar and can find no reference to it on the Internet. of brutal murders during press conference today . It was well known by us who lived on Koh Tao, if you did go to that bar, don't expect change. The crime's brutality amid Koh Tao's insular, backpacker charm caused an international sensation and threatened to further weaken a tourist industry already reeling from the military coup of. Unfortunately there is a dark side of Koh Tao and some people call it the Wild Wild West Island. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. This article is of interest to the following WikiProjects : This page is a joke. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 09.56 EST A Thai police officer who was called to the scene of the killing of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in September 2014 testified on Wednesday,. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. In a 2012/13 New Year's Eve party Londoner Stephen Ashton, 22, was killed in a bar on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Koh Phangan - a resort where the FCO warns British travellers to beware "vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs". Tips for Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train | Worth it? Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . But no suicide note or message were recovered and Michele is desperate for information surrounding the mysterious death. Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. Unfortunately more tragic news from the so called Death Island of Koh Tao occurred recently when on June 4th 2021 the 2 lifeless bodies of a Thai/Indian billionaire couple were found dead in the Jamahkhiri Resort & Spa hotel pool. Taking into account the multiple eye witnesses saying it, the guys reputation and history and aliases for the Burmese guys it's hard to see any other possibility. Two Burmese men charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller went on trial on Wednesday. Westerners were ignored as long as you didn't cause any problems. A Thai police officer who was called to the scene of the killing of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in September 2014 testified on Wednesday, the first of dozens of witnesses who will appear in court during a three-month trial of two Burmese men. Autopsy points to sex, struggle in Koh Tao murders - Bangkok Post This news blows up in the UK. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo also known as Win Zaw Htun are 22-year-old bar and restaurant migrant workers from Burma. That is the price you pay to get from Sairee Beach to Chalok Bay. Koh Tao looks like a paradise, but it's known among Brits as 'death island' Credit: Alamy In a new Sky documentary, Death On The Beach, families open up on how they believe Thai police covered up . After living through it for months, I think this conclusion, which was agreed on by many on the island at the time, is the closest to the truth that will ever appear. Christina Annesley, 23, was one of the many young Brits who sadly died in Koh Tao. Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists. Death Island or Murder Island Koh Tao has already been struggling with a very bad reputation after the Koh Tao murders in September 2014 when a British couple was killed and left behind on Sairee Beach. Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. However you are on holiday and partying, things can ugly go wrong, so please be aware that these things can happen and protect yourself from it. I lately traveled to Bangkok and saw marijuana stores everywhere. But remember you are still in Thailand! Michelle, who says the death would have gone unnoticed if not for her public appeal for help, said: "I do not believe what the police have told us. This is just a backup page for the Youtube channel, plus some stuff that I would like to share. Photo: EPA . Luke Miller, 24, from the UK. Fears over the safety of idyllic Koh Tao were heightened after the killings of Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014. Are you into partying then book your accommodation close to Sairee Beach. They were planning on going back to her hotel to have sex and decided on one more drink. Ive never been happier than here, David, a 24-year-old on holiday with friends, told relatives in Jersey in what was to be his last phone call home. I'm so desensitised, as gruesome as this one was, to seeing dead bodies at this point that I just get back on my bike and go to work. But keep in mind that Koh Tao is NOT Bangkok. Two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were arrested over the crime. Duxbollox Producktions, Not a Glass House, Comfortable Boulevard 73 Andy Hall, a migrants rights activist from Britain who is working for the defence, told the Guardian outside the court: Recently in the last few weeks weve got some significant information from the UK side and its raises a lot of very important inconsistencies between the Thai evidence and the the evidence from the UK. He did not give details on what evidence UK authorities had provided. senseless" photos of the crime scene, they say, which show her body . In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2023? - Traveltomtom.net I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! Then came a stumbling police investigation, speculation about a cover-up to protect a prominent local family, the alleged framing and torture of two young Burmese migrant workers, questions about the handling of key forensic evidence and the controversial observer role of Metropolitan Police officers alongside Thai investigators. This search engine for Thailand transportation also shows you all the available options in one overview. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island.