There will be no jury. 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. Yes, I have been there and yes I have smoked weed myself multiple times when traveling to Koh Tao. Scuba diving is the main tourist drag and when the scuba lessons are over the partying starts. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. Dont forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. I trusted the people I called friends with my life, literally. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. solve a crime that made global headlines . They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. You never know who you are up to, dont let a small issue ruin your holiday. Fears over the safety of idyllic Koh Tao were heightened after the killings of Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. koh tao murders crime scene photos Koh Tao - Thai Police - Their scapegoats, Tourist Trade Exposed by Anonymous Greetings world, We are Anonymous. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Mr Sachathamakul was the co-owner and chief executive officer of the Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach hotel and owned the Bangkapi Mansion apartments in Bangkok. In recent years, however, the unexplained deaths and disappearances of many of those tourists have earned it a reputation as a death trap. Two migrant workers accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the Thai tourist . Even people you didn't know well, you would know what their reputation was. Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March and has still not been found. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. The publicity about their allegedly botched investigation began in 2014 with the brutal murder of two British tourists, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, on Koh Tao island off Surat Thani. Their bodies were found floating in the resorts pool last Friday, just hours after they checked in. The next night, Archie and his buddies went out in search of victim number one. Photo: CSI LA. For a few weeks/months leading up to the murders, violence was getting worse, but it never happened in Westerner hangouts. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! They might not have even realised what they did was offensive. But an unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts - including the one Elise had been staying in. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. Two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were arrested over the crime. 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. She is still missing. If you would like to be prepared for your trip to Thailand then have a look at my guide telling you everything you need to know when you travel to Thailand: visas, safety issues, scams, the culture, things to do and things NOT to do, the best national parks, about the street food, the travel adapter you need, the vaccinations and many more things. Two Burmese bar workers were found guilty of their murders the following year and sentenced to death. In January 2015, she was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics with alcohol. However, according to Rhys Bonney, an immigration adviser to expats in Thailand, the legality of the businesses are an extremely grey area. . On tiny Koh Tao, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. She spoke to police and wasn't given the time of day. Are you looking to stay in remote bays then keep in mind thaT after sunset there is nothing to do. I will reference it further simply as BAR. This news blows up in the UK. Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerarythen have a read in the link. But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial of the two Burmese migrant workers was plagued by accusations of human rights abuses. Prices for taxi rides in Koh Tao are fixed and they all stick to it. The murders on the popular dive island of Koh Tao drew intense media attention from across the world. With crystal clear water and stunning greenery, the Thai island of Koh Tao is seen as a backpacker haven. "The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time.". Let me tell you where you can book one with insurance, so you wont get scammed. The Burmese men initially admitted to the murder of Miller, who suffered head injuries and drowned in shallow water, and the rape and murder of Witheridge, who died from severe head injuries. I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. About to rent a motorbike? Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. But keep in mind that Koh Tao is NOT Bangkok. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: californiasmovingcompanies.com, +18184645504 Tom's Piano Movers 1-818-464-5504 - Tom's Piano Moving Corporation | Moving Company in California | Movers in Los Angeles | Movers California | Move in CA Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. A British man was found dead on Thailand 's notorious Koh Tao - also known as Death Island - on Wednesday. The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. 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. A young backpacker has become the latest tourist found dead on Thailand's notorious 'death island', Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a backpacker was found dead on April 27, Sairee beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found bludgeoned to death, Chillingly, the death of Elise appears to have been suppressed by Thai authorities, Elise Dallemange, 30, here pictured with mum Michele, had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat, Elise had been travelling around Asia for the last two years, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in September 2014, Hannah is pictured (right) with her sister Laura, Luke Miller was found dead in a swimming pool in Koh Tao, Thai police have been accused by his family for not investigating the murder fully, Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015, Christina's parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death, Nick Pearson's parents are convinced their son was murdered in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March, She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island. The rest were mafia. According to the Daily Mail, the District Attorney publicized the gruesome photos a week after they were presented to a jury. However it was heavily rumoured they were tortured to get a confession, both psychologically and physically. May you have any additional questions please leave me a comment below and I am happy to help you out with everything you want to know about Koh Tao island. Other witnesses to appear will be the doctor who determined the cause of death and a woman who first found the bodies. In the court, a supermarket trolley held other pieces of evidence, including a guitar wrapped in plastic and said to be owned by the defendants and rolls of paper. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. The rise in tourist deaths in Thailand brought more police to the islands and stories of being caught with marijuana are still pretty common. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. "They may be feeling guilty for the crime they have done." The two Burmese men, identified as Saw and Win, were arrested last week and accused of killing David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September. Koh Tao Mafia truth or myth as a tourist you are not willing to get in touch with any of these things, right? Whatever the reason I didn't see him. 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. 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. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. Maybe a week before, a Thai guy jumped off a 5ish story building whilst on it and died immediately, no tourist knew about this. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Who instigated the violence first will never be known and doesn't really matter. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo also known as Win Zaw Htun are 22-year-old bar and restaurant migrant workers from Burma. The case has caused Thailands judiciary to be closely scrutinised. This is just a backup page for the Youtube channel, plus some stuff that I would like to share. Let me help you as in my article Travel to Thailand or Philippines I compare my two favorites island destinations! First off let me tell you that if you think Thailand is dangerous for tourists, you are wrong! Are you into partying then book your accommodation close to Sairee Beach. Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. Especially at night just always stay around other people. 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. So how safe is Koh Tao? After 2 big trips around the world in my early travel days, I am now already continuously traveling the world for more than 3,700 days! Burmese are treated like shit and no one will miss them, easy target so they chose two random guys. All times AEDT (GMT +11). The Thai population were the business owners. Finally, it was an unspoken rule that we never revealed the shit going on the tourists never saw. Use common sense and stay out of trouble in the first place! We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. After checking into the resort, the couple headed down to the pool for a swim while Ratish went for a walk on the beach. SUPAPONG CHAOLAN DNA tests have failed to provide a match. If you are a solo traveler, taxi drivers will most likely rip you off. Koh Tao has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. Now I'm aware in Western culture that word is a slur, but it isn't in 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. That sounds like an obvious thing, but on islands where the atmosphere is so extremely chilled it is a very tempting thing to do. A big discussion started when I posted a picture on my Facebook Page with the caption that Koh Tao was a peaceful paradise. These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. Whether this means they were having sex, making out or anything else I'm not sure. How Hannah got involved wasn't mentioned in this theory beyond, they knew they were together. My passion to inspire other people to travel the world turned into a lifestyle. Blood on the floor of the feedroom where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. I greet my students and start packing bags as we'll be diving all day. In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. And its just claimed another two victims. You knew who you could trust, you knew who liked to stir up drama etc. L&M brand which were found near the crime scene matched samples . They were at the same party together. Be a responsible tourist in the first place. Thai police claim Elise hung herself - but her devastated mother does not believe them, and thinks somebody else was involved. David handed over the equivalent of $25-30 for drinks worth no more than $5. Aug 10, 2017. They are most likely willing to help out a stranger. Posted on December 5, 2021. Click here to read about the best things to do in Koh Tao. A couple hours later a British couple got brutally murdered and left behind only two hundred meters away from where I had been drinking beers and having fun with my friends. Burmese migrant workers crossing the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in the bordertown Mae Sot, Thailand. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV. I have traveled around the islands extensively and would love to help you plan your trip to Thailand. 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". 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. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. If you can improve it further, please do so. Five more three-day sessions will be staggered over the next few weeks, ending on 25 September, after which the judges will rule on the verdict. But human rights groups have called the mens convictions profoundly disturbing amid allegations of mishandled forensics and claims by the men Thai police had tortured them into confessing. Sorry not sorry hostels, but you are. On New Years Day in 2015, he was found hanging in a bungalow. But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. Stay away from drugs! Seeing a high ranking mafia member involved in a fight leads the other members to jump in. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! 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.. The bodies were found 100 metres away from the scene of a beach party, according to a local report.It was believed that attackers may have been waiting to target the pair as they walked off at the end of the party, which was attended by a group of international revellers. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took . This time Ialso got a change to visit Koh Chang and the Golden Triangle up North. I'm also not a great writer. Ortega, 55, is charged . It just doesn't go away.". All the 'dirty work' was done by the Burmese. It mostly always comes down to your own behaviour and therefore I wrote a Thailand travel guide, with everything you need to know. There are three theories, nobody ever got an answer to which is correct and mostly like it's a combination. 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. For the entire time I was on Koh Tao, there was one bar you avoided. Yes, that is more than 10 years of moving around the globe, not staying in one place longer than 2-3 weeks mostly! of brutal murders during press conference today . Nicola Gissing, who was also on holiday with Luke when he died, has claimed her friends death was no accident. The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, have had their "hearts broken" by a second death. I am 100% sure about it. This idyllic island in Thailand has long been popular with tourists for its pristine beaches, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and turquoise waters. Now Im really suspicious, her father Boyce Annesley previously told news.com.au. There is a big change nothing will ever happen, but a wasted tourist is an easy victim. The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine. They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. KOH TAO MURDERS - DID SCOTLAND YARD AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE SCREW UP? 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. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. Investigators were checking CCTV from local bars and restaurants and it was reported people were prevented from leaving the island. In the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. Now onto the mafia. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. Having lived on the island for a fair few years at this point, the mafia knew who I was. I will give a TLDR at the end of this section because it will probably be longer than the story. Neill Fronde Wednesday, June 9, 2021. At one point is was extremely hidden and out of nowhere it was out in the open, if you knew where to look. A common Koh Tao scam occurs with renting motorbikes. The case has shocked Britain. 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 a decent chunk of ladyboys had mafia ties. A corrupt police force was bribed by BARs owner/mafia to lay the blame on anyone else. The mother told Der Farang magazine that she had been promised an autopsy report - but has still not been delivered. According to the Lonely Planet travel guides, Koh Tao welcomes thousands of visitors who "come to worship the turquoise waters offshore". When asked why, we'd say, 'you just don't want to end up at BAR' . Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Click on the picture to read all about it. Why they would spout this information, I can only guess. Click here for our ongoing coverage of the killings. Three judges sat high above the small court room on Koh Samui, a larger island near Koh Tao, where witnesses will testify over the next three days. With such incredible sunsets on the main party beach, the party starts early. Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. A case of wrong time, wrong place. Even now that in 2023 things have drastically changed and that weed and smoking marijuana is pretty much decriminalised in Thailand, it still is a grey area. 'A perfect job' Authorities remain steadfast in their conviction they've found those responsible. Note: in all my continuous travels around the world since December 2012, I have never ran into a bad situation. If this Koh Tao blog about safety issues was helpful for your trip please pin it on Pinterest, share it in a Facebook Group or tweet it on Twitter. 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. 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 vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Koh Tao every year never have any issues or whatsoever. This is to prevent the public from speculating and becoming scared of the area for its crime incidents.. Think on forehand where you want your Koh Tao hotel to be. The FCO says such attacks are particularly common around the time of Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin. The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. But trust me if you travel to Koh Tao you dont get involved with daily politics on the island! But they later retracted their confessions, saying they had been tortured and threatened with death by their interrogators. No toxicology report was conducted. Apologies in advance for spelling/grammar mistakes and rambling, typing this on my phone. Questions surround her death. Buying a Sim Card for Dominican Republic in 2023, Buying a Sim Card at Bogota Airport in 2023, Buying a Sim Card at Lisbon Airport in 2023, Four Seasons Amman | Luxury Experience in an Amazing City, Affordable Villa Mira Apartment near Rainbow Street Amman, best scuba diving destinations in the world, search engine for Thailand transportation, Buying a Thailand Sim Card at Bangkok Airport in 2023, 25 Best Street Food Dishes in Thailand (+printable checklist), 68 Interesting & Funny Thailand and Bangkok Facts. So the answer to who is the murderer is the owner of BAR, the same one their bodies were found the closest to, and a known mafia hangout. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Different place, different rules. They walked together into the court on Wednesday shortly after it started, escorted by British consular officials and sat a few metres from the defendants. Christina Annesley, 23, was one of the many young Brits who sadly died in Koh Tao. 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. There was also a photo floating around on WhatsApp that spread across the island like wildfire. A key issue for the defence is whether DNA samples, taken from sputum and semen, which the prosecution says links the Burmese migrant workers to the murder could be independently checked. senseless" photos of the crime scene, they say, which show her body . 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. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Hannah was also revelling in her time staying at Sairee Beach with another group of travelling companions. Koh Tao, Thailand | Photo by Valeriy Ryasnyanskiy on Unsplash Some of the deaths which have sparked debate as to whether or not the missing and murder cases were investigated properly, include the death of Dimitri Povse. All of the witnesses will be investigated as well. 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. Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island on New Year's Day 2015 and his death was ruled as suicide despite his hands being tied behind his back. A small thing for you to do, but it can make a big difference for me. Secret Thailand travel tip: did you know that flying from either Phuket or Krabi towards Chiang Mai is 50% cheaper than the other way around. The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. Was everyone on Meth in a mafia? He didn't get any change, he kicked off wanting his money back. Mafia ran the place, Meth was becoming a plague amongst them. Thai police said a post-mortem examination showed he drowned. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. Elise Dallemagne, 30, of Belgium. There are amazing hiking trails and viewpoints in Koh Tao, it is one of best scuba diving destinations in the worldand there are many more othercool things to do in Koh Tao. She was part of the sect of the Sathya Sai Baba cult movement, and lived with a self-proclaimed "guru", and left the island on April 17 to return home. There are serious doubts about the evidence linking Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, with the brutal slaying of David Miller, 24, and rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the Thai Gulf . Why are government officials going along with this with no/circumstantial evidence at best? It was revealed yesterday that on April 28 Elise became the latest tourist found dead on the island of Koh Tao. 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. It mostly depends on how you behave yourself. Police told Elise's mother Michele that her daughter had committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree around three days before she was found. I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. This is one of the crime scene photos from the attack on Sue White by Gerald Arthur Lee on 11/05/06 in Cherokee County, GA. Michele claims that Elise used a fake name of "Elise Dubuis" to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao as she travelled via the island on a ferry bound for Chumphon province on her route back to capital Bangkok. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. They've gone years doing whatever they want, it doesn't matter who knows. For the around 10k people on the island a day, there were 3 police officers who only appeared around holidays. The rest of the week, the island wasn't the same anymore. If Koh Tao is part of your Thailand itinerary there are a couple things you have to keep in mind, but this basically counts for every tourist destination in Thailand and in the world. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results By Coconuts Bangkok Oct 31, 2014 | 5:40pm Bangkok time Preliminary results today found no link between Warot Tuwichian and DNA police say was collected from the scene of two murders on Koh Tao last month. Take a look at my suggested Thailand island hopping toursor check out which islands to go in Thailandfor your purpose of travel or read here all thethings I miss about Thailand. Thailand is very conservative in regards to nudity and sex. There were also other people at the party but I didn't know them well enough to comment on them. The reason people went to that bar is it was still open after everywhere else shut. Or want to know the best hidden bays or a secret sunrise spot? shark tank hamdog net worth SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. 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.
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