TWO Burmese migrants have been sentenced to death after being found guilty of
the savage murders of two Brit backpackers in Thailand.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the
popular holiday island of Koh Tao last September.
Thai cops said Hannah was found raped and beaten to death while Daniel had
been bludgeoned in the head before being drowned.
Three judges in a court on the island of Koh Samui sentenced Zaw Lin and Win
Zaw Htun, both 22, after finding them guilty of rape and murder.
They were both sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the rape of Miss
Witheridge and will face death by lethal injection for the murder of both
backpackers.
Hannah’s family did not travel to Thailand for the verdicts but David’s mother
and father, Ian and Sue, attended along with his brother Michael who read
out a statement outside the court.
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Hannah, from Hemsby in Norfolk was a student at the University of Essex had
met David, from Jersey, who had just finished a civil and structural
engineering course at the University of Leeds, while they were staying in
the same hotel on the island.
He said: “We believe the result today represents justice for David and Hannah.
“David always stood up for justice and justice is what has been delivered
today.
“We respect this court and its decision completely.
“It is our opinion that the evidence against Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin is
absolutely overwhelming.
“They raped to satisfy their selfish desires and murdered to cover up that
fact.
“They have shown no remorse during the trial.
“Initially they confessed and then recanted in an attempt to avoid justice.
“We believe the correct verdict has been reached and we would like to thank
those who have supported us over the last year.”
The defendants’ mothers wept as the verdicts and sentences were read out, only
emerging from court as David’s brother Michael finished his statement.
The death sentences follow a controversial investigation which included
allegations of torture, mishandling of evidence and incompetence on the part
of the police.
Prosecutors stated that DNA evidence from cigarette butts, a condom and the
victims’ bodies point to the defendants.
The defendants initially confessed to the murders but later claimed that they
only did so because they were tortured.
They told the court they were beaten, suffocated with plastic bags and
threatened with death whilst in custody.
The migrant’s from Burma, who were working in a cafe on Koh Tao, were arrested
following weeks of pressure from at home and abroad.
British cops travelled to Thailand to assist with the investigation following
an appeal from David Cameron to Thailand’s military ruler.
Following allegations of bungling by local police forces a British backpacker
named Sean McAnna was forced to flee the island claiming locals had told him
to commit suicide because he was the murderer.
Then the son of a high profile local businessman was accused of the slaying
but was able to prove that he wasn’t even on the island at the time of their
deaths.
The men still have the right to appeal but if that fails they will be killed
by lethal injection.
Outside the court the migrants defence team’s leading lawyer Nakhon
Chomphuchat said: “The case against the two defendants was unjustified to
begin with.
“The investigation and charges were conducted improperly, without any lawyers
or witnesses present.
“There was no translator for the defendants and the gathering of DNA samples
was done unwillingly.”
He indicated that these would all factors used as part of the appeal process.