Thread: Two Tourists Brutally Murdered on Koh Tao, One Raped: Police Spark Thailand Manhunt

^^^^ shocking. But not surprising.

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

I say the two lads are going to be set free,the Thais are being hammered on many fronts recently and possibly be set free on some sort of technicality.

If the two Guys are set free it would show Thailand is actually moving forward with tackling the rampant corruption that flows through this country at every level in society.

If they are convicted it's business as usual.

My two baht.....Thailand has to convict these two poor lads. To do otherwise would show them up on the world stage for the lying, corrupt fucks that they are. If they convict, there will be a wee uproar which will quickly fade. If they acquit, they're a laughing stock for a long time. They will get no credit for an acquittal, but simply will be held up to further international ridicule.

^

Yes, good point that and more than likely that's what will happen.

They have nothing to lose, the whole world knows just how fuked up the country is.

Most probably could well go down that route though I have a sneaky feeling a deals being made.

Don't know why,just all the international pressure there getting now something has to give.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

I say the two lads are going to be set free,the Thais are being hammered on many fronts recently and possibly be set free on some sort of technicality.

If the two Guys are set free it would show Thailand is actually moving forward with tackling the rampant corruption that flows through this country at every level in society.

If they are convicted it's business as usual.

My two baht.....Thailand has to convict these two poor lads. To do otherwise would show them up on the world stage for the lying, corrupt fucks that they are. If they convict, there will be a wee uproar which will quickly fade. If they acquit, they're a laughing stock for a long time. They will get no credit for an acquittal, but simply will be held up to further international ridicule.

Originally Posted by terry57

the whole world knows just how fuked up the country is.

That's the thing though.... the whole world doesn't know.... and 90% of those don't care.

They have their own shit to worry about, their own corruption, their own mismanagement, their own unemplyment, there own injusticies.....

and then those that live in the west.... you think 75% of the population of the USA know or care about the state of Thailand? You think your average Sydney footie supporter knows or cares....??

Thai murder trial told of autopsy discrepancies in reports relating to Hannah Witheridge

A British human rights activist working with the defence lawyers representing the two Burmese men accused of killing Hannah Witheridge, 23, and fellow British tourist David Miller, 24, from Jersey, said he had obtained a copy of the Norfolk coroner’s report and there were serious discrepancies.

Andy Hall, a renowned expert in migrant rights in Thailand, was giving evidence to the court in Koh Samui about the murders which took place on the neighbouring island of Koh Tao last September.

He said discrepancies included the Norfolk coroner’s report finding 
no evidence of bite marks on Ms Witheridge’s body which contradicted the contents of the Thai pathologist’s report conducted 
immediately after her death.

The full details of the Norfolk report were not disclosed verbally in court, although it was handed to the prosecution and the judge, and Mr Hall said the differences were significant.

Ms Witheridge’s family, who are in Thailand to hear the final days of testimony in the two-month long case, left the court before the Norfolk coroner’s report was discussed.

Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 22, both deny the murders.

The trial will continue until tomorrow. A verdict is expected in October.

Thai murder trial told of autopsy discrepancies in reports relating to Hannah Witheridge - Crime - Eastern Daily Press

^ all falling apart for them/ Guess the myanmar lads will be quickly found guilty, sentenced to 25 years, and the next day, driven back over the border to myanmar with a wad in their pocket to stay disappeared.

If found guilty,they have the right guys on there side. sure they won't let it go.

Sure the verdict will be stretched out as long as possible hoping the attention goes away.

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

If found guilty,they have the right guys on there side. sure they won't let it go. Sure the verdict will be stretched out as long as possible hoping the attention goes away.

Assuming they are found guilty and they have the right of appeal, that could drag the case on for longer, keeping it in the public eye.
A verdict will allow the UK Coroner to resume his findings and if there are serious discrepancies come to light, it would be worse loss of face for the Thais.
A not guilty verdict would have similar repercussions, so the Thais do not come out of it well either way.

Originally Posted by chassamui

Thais do not come out of it well either way.

Oh well...at least they've learned from their mistakes, and have been putting forth an admirably professional performance in the Erawan case.

Ain't going to make the British Govt/Police look to good either.

UK Government Case Investigation


There followed intense media coverage and public concern which was expressed in the form of online campaigns regarding the reliability of the Thai police investigation and the arrest of Zaw Lin and Wei Phyo. UK Prime Minister David Cameron and UK authorities strongly engaged Thai officials. Officials from the UK sought to send a team of qualified British police to Thailand to investigate the murders and report back to the deceased’s families. Since this time, MWRN and Zaw Lin and Wei Phyo’s defense team have been working with Reprieve in London to explore the UK Government’s role in investigating this case. This led to disclosure of a Metropolitan Police letter dated 19th December 2014 that stated in summary:

The Metropolitan police did not conduct any investigations into these murders in Thailand. Instead, during a visit to Thailand in November 2014, three UK police officials were granted observer status only to limited parts of the Thai police investigation, they did not provide any advice or assistance, and relied on the translation services of a Thai police translator. During their visit these officials did not take possession of any evidence, physical or forensic, and did not collect exhibits, interviews or statements
The Metropolitan police were preparing a report on observations from their visit to Thailand, to be completed in January 2015. This report was to be for internal use only and would not be shared with the Thai authorities or other persons. Furthermore, the request from the defense team to review this report was denied as, relying on an exemption under the UK data protection law, it would ‘clearly prejudice’ the criminal prosecution in question and undermine prevention and detection of crime
No other case information would be shared with Thai authorities or the defense team by UK authorities for use in a criminal process which lacks the necessary assurances regarding use of the death penalty
The validity of this Metropolitan Police response is now under question after further investigations by MWRN and the defense team, which has uncovered an acknowledgement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) that there may have been informal sharing of UK based witness statements by local police forces with Thai authorities despite concerns over whether necessary assurances regarding the death penalty were first obtained by the concerned authorities.

Taken from CSILA also on sanook.com

A world renowned DNA expert, Jane Taupin, was ready to testify but couldn't because there were absolutely NO supporting DNA analysis documents from the police. THE PROSECUTION AND POLICE IGNORED MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR DNA EVIDENCE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS THAT JANE REQUESTED.

Koh Samui Court has now adjourned Koh Tao murder trial until the final 2 days of hearings for 2 accused to give testimony on 10/11 October

Is this normal procedure of Thai courts, before a trial has finished.?

Samui court judges & lawyers discussed today Koh Tao case judgement will be sent to director general region 8 for checking prior to release

Court hears of police brutality as Hannah Witheridge’s family returns to Thailand

Ms Witheridge’s family has returned to Thailand for the last stages of the trial and this morning the court heard of more allegations of police brutality.

Two 22 year-old Burmese men claim they were tortured by police to confess to her killing, and that of David Miller from Jersey, on Sairee Beach.

They are on trial on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui.

Aung Soe, a Burmese Embassy attache, told the court he had interviewed a friend of the accused, Mao Mao, who was on the same beach as them, and the victims, in the early hours of the morning of September 15th 2014.

“When he arrived at the Embassy it was obvious he was extremely scared,” said Aung Soe. “He said he had been held in police custody for ten days during which he claimed he was beaten, hit in the chest and shoulders, and kicked in the chest. When we showed him pictures he was able to identify the person who attacked him and show us exactly how he was assaulted.”

Mao Mao allegedly told the embassy staff that he was threatened with becoming a suspect if he did not cooperate thoroughly with them. However, he has not testified at the trial as the Royal Thai police have said they do not know where he is now.

A Burmese Embassy team went to Koh Tao after the murders to conduct its own investigation.

Aung Soe said they found that virtually all the Burmese migrant community on Koh Tao had been questioned in the weeks between the murders and the arrests.

“Many of them said police scalded them with hot water if they were caught talking about the case to anyone,” said Aung Soe.

The trial was due to finish at the end of this week, but defence lawyers are still waiting for a court ruling as to whether it can be extended for a few more days to give them time to call more witnesses.

The prosecution was availed of 13 days to present its case whereas the defence has only had 6.

The verdict will come later in October.

Court hears of police brutality as Hannah Witheridge?s family returns to Thailand - Crime - Eastern Daily Press

As Bobcock said, there is basically no one gives a stuff in the west over this stitch up,
i asked some thai bound tourists did they know of the lawless police-judical actions there,
they did not give a stuff,don't read papers-forums,just wanted to party.
so if it does not happen to them it does not matter,pisses me off when innocent tourists start screaming when it all goes pear shaped when they should of done a basic check
of the shit that can happen concerning the law in thailand.

Originally Posted by reddog

As Bobcock said, there is basically no one gives a stuff in the west over this stitch up,
i asked some thai bound tourists did they know of the lawless police-judical actions there,
they did not give a stuff,don't read papers-forums,just wanted to party.
so if it does not happen to them it does not matter,pisses me off when innocent tourists start screaming when it all goes pear shaped when they should of done a basic check
of the shit that can happen concerning the law in thailand.

I give a fuck. Those two are innocent.

Just wait, there will be fireworks going off on Koh Tao the night they are convicted. Probably by the families of the ones that really did those horrific murders.

And in a couple of months - there will be another such unexplained murder or rape or suicide. And the cycle will go on and on and on.

All hidden. Those families must be going through hell and back. And don't call them stupid, they were expecting British laws and courts. Not the circus that they have had to suffer over the past year.

^^

The fact is the vast majority of tourists leave Thailand with a Hangover and a camera full of great memories.

These murders are not the norm of course.

20 million tourists a year poring into Thailand this year say that its not a bad spot for a holiday.

Don't go to America, mass murders everyday ?

Just an example like.

Originally Posted by thailazer

The corruption and lack of rule-of-law is getting a bit of visibility with newspaper articles here in the USA. Some folks are asking about what is going on there so I tell them. But most are indeed clueless. Had a friend whose daughter, 26 years old wanted to travel to Thailand alone. I told him about the rapes and killings and the fact the police protect the rich who drug and rape tourists. He was aghast and I am sure told his daughter not to go..

Heavens to betsy, a 26 year old traveling alone, whatever next. Lucky her father told her not to go.
FFS.

I sat on the beach and visited all the bars around Chaweng all alone when i was 30, no probs,

But then, i am fugly.

You are white, probably pasty freckley and ginger, you got off light.

The prosecution had been afforded 13 days for witness testimony while the defence had only been afforded six.



Court hears of police brutality as Hannah Witheridge?s family returns to Thailand - Crime - Eastern Daily Press

Originally Posted by Cujo

Heavens to betsy, a 26 year old traveling alone, whatever next. Lucky her father told her not to go.
FFS.

Yes I agree, load of shit some of these posts.

Jesus, the worlds a dangerous place.

Don't leave home if ones scared of living outside ones bedroom.

Originally Posted by terry57

Don't leave home if ones scared of living outside ones bedroom.

There are much more frightening things, like getting locked in Terry's bedroom.