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Suspects taken to scene of Thailand murders as investigation continues

Two Burmese men suspected of murdering two British tourists in Thailand have been taken to the sc...
Newstalk
Newstalk

12.00 3 Oct 2014


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Suspects taken to scene of Tha...

Suspects taken to scene of Thailand murders as investigation continues

Newstalk
Newstalk

12.00 3 Oct 2014


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Two Burmese men suspected of murdering two British tourists in Thailand have been taken to the scene of the killings as part of the investigation by local police.

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last month.

Thai police say the men face charges of murder, rape and theft.

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Mr Miller, 24, from Jersey, died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Miss Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds on Sairee beach last month.

Their semi-naked bodies were found on the southern island of Koh Tao, near where they were staying, in the early hours of September 15th.

A blood-stained garden hoe, which is thought to be the murder weapon, was discovered nearby.

Reconstruction 

Footage shows the handcuffed suspects, wearing motorcycle helmets and police vests, on the island's Sairee beach, surrounded by police as a reconstruction of the attacks is staged, watched on my hundreds of locals and tourists.

One suspect can be seen walking from the sea to the sandy beach, and wielding a large handled tool to apparently replicate a garden hoe while talking to officers.

The reconstruction also saw a man and woman, depicting the victims, walking along the beach, their arms around each other.

Thai police announced the pair - named as Win, 21, and Saw, 23, from Rakhine state in Myanmar - had admitted killing the British tourists during questioning.

Thai National police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said, "the suspects saw them kissing and were aroused, so they attacked and got rid of the man and proceeded to rape the female victim.

"There was clear evidence: forensic evidence, (testimony from) witnesses and other evidence, as well as closed-circuit television footage. Looking at the DNA results, we have tested that the DNA of these two match the DNA found in the deceased.

He added that police had confiscated several pieces of evidence, including a mobile phone said to have belonged to one of the victims.

Thai police have collected DNA samples from more than 100 men on the island.

Police had originally said they believed three men were involved in the attack. A third Burmese man remains in detention and is being questioned on suspicion of involvement


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