5th Oct, 2014. 8 Christina is one of the many young Brits to have died on the island Credit: Handout 8 Tips for Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train | Worth it? Thanks a lot! Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. senseless" photos of the crime scene, they say, which show her body . Two Myanmar workers on Thursday lost their final appeal against the death penalty for the 2014 murder of a . People from India and China died, mostly drowning, every day and no one gave a shit. Burmese migrant workers crossing the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in the bordertown Mae Sot, Thailand. 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. 'This is how we killed them': Chilling moment two Burmese barmen showed It mostly always comes down to your own behaviour and therefore I wrote a Thailand travel guide, with everything you need to know. SUPAPONG CHAOLAN DNA tests have failed to provide a match. The brutality of the killings made headlines worldwide and cast a shadow across Thailands image as a safe and carefree destination for 20 million foreign visitors a year. Koh Tao murders: Still no arrests, no DNA matches (updated Thursday) 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. 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. A small thing for you to do, but it can make a big difference for me. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV. 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! Koh Tao Murders: Burmese Suspects Face Dubious Trial | Time She was found dead in her bungalow with a mix of medication and alcohol in her system in 2015 - leading the coroner to ascertain she died of an accidental overdose. The teen's body was found seven days after the boating accident. She said: "I would tell them to do everything in their power to stop them going. If you caused no trouble, you would have no problems and they didn't seem to have any issues with each other. Koh Tao Mafia truth or myth as a tourist you are not willing to get in touch with any of these things, right? This island paradise is notorious for the unexplained deaths of people who visit there. Two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were arrested over the crime. It just doesn't go away.". With all due respect but I obviously have no idea how a small blonde girl would feel visiting Koh Tao. Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. 09/23/14 AT 10:48 AM BST. 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. What To Pack For Thailand | Packing List With 40 Things To Bring. People speculated that seeing foreign tourists walk around wearing no clothes all day, having sex on the beach etc pushed them over the edge. He arrived at the beach five minutes later and swiftly cordoned off the area. The vibe on the island was very tense. The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. 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". Yes go partying, get drunk, play beer-pong, drink buckets, get shit-faced but always make sure you are able to get home properly. The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars. 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. 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. My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Buying your tickets for boats, trains, flights and busses is the safest and most reliable online. KOH TAO MURDERS - DID SCOTLAND YARD AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE SCREW UP? Other witnesses to appear will be the doctor who determined the cause of death and a woman who first found the bodies. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. It was well known by us who lived on Koh Tao, if you did go to that bar, don't expect change. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel and. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. It's very gruesome.". Make sure you have a seat by buying your ticket online and safe a lot of hassle. I got a clear view of Hannah's body, but not David's. 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. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. 'A perfect job' Authorities remain steadfast in their conviction they've found those responsible. Disturbingly, police on the island have said CCTV cameras at luxury Jamahkiri Resort and Spa werent working on the day the couple died, fuelling mystery around what happened to the wealthy pair. Simple things your parents would tell you too: dont walk along the beach on your own at night. Koh Tao murders: suspects in killing of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge say they were framed. The case has caused Thailands judiciary to be closely scrutinised. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. But also to tell you that NO Koh Tao is not a murder island. 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. 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 rest were mafia. The couple tried to escape, hence their bodies being found a short distance away but were chased down, raped and murdered. The mother told Der Farang magazine that she had been promised an autopsy report - but has still not been delivered. He said at the time: "We don't know how or why she died. Check out my Traveltomtom Group Trip page for one of the exciting upcoming group trips. While most of the millions of tourists who flock to the island for its world-class scuba diving opportunities, lavish resorts and unending sunshine have the time of their lives, a disturbingly high number who visited the island never came home. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. That is the price you pay to get from Sairee Beach to Chalok Bay. It's the closest I can imagine to what people in the military feel for each other. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool Diagram of crime scene. UPDATE: Attempted murder by Thai - Koh Tao Death Island | Facebook When asked why, we'd say, 'you just don't want to end up at BAR' . 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". They were at the same party together. It mostly depends on how you behave yourself. 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. I will give a TLDR at the end of this section because it will probably be longer than the story. My gf had been on the island 18 months longer than me and is one of those people who just knows everyone. 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. Wealth Businessman and Wife Found Dead in Koh Tao Resort Pool Christina, from Orpington, South East London, died shortly after arriving on Koh Tao. 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. I asked what had happened, he wasn't 100% sure but the bar owner had killed them. 2 minutes read. Police chief Apichart Boonsrirote said he assigned teams to check all surveillance cameras around the hostel and on the island to find out where she was last seen, The Phuket News reported. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. Before I begin, this will get long and there are lots of things I need to explain about the island before I can get into the story. 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. Since I found out about 12Go Asia, traveling in Thailand become much more convenient. A case of wrong time, wrong place. As the love for Koh Tao and Thailand is real, you might think I am biased writing this blog. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. Well if talking about the Koh Tao Mafia here you go. 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. David was either a distance away or hidden by people or sand. A big discussion started when I posted a picture on my Facebook Page with the caption that Koh Tao was a peaceful paradise. The reason people went to that bar is it was still open after everywhere else shut. The rise in tourist deaths in Thailand brought more police to the islands and stories of being caught with marijuana are still pretty common. Obsessed with True Crime - Archive : Crime Scenes Showing 1-40 of 40 The rest of the week, the island wasn't the same anymore. It will always be you against the island. Apparently, she's also known as "Verna White". Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. She was later identified by dental records and previous x-rays. More details uncovered in billionaire couple's Koh Tao death Sorry not sorry hostels, but you are. I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. Murdaugh Murders: Crime Scene Photos Shown in Court - Crime Online But her parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Koh Tao murders : Two Britons dead in Thailand. If you are a solo traveler, taxi drivers will most likely rip you off. 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,. Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. Tim Newton talks with Su Buchanan on her new upcoming book The curse of the turtle which writes about some of the true stories behind the backpacker murders and the mystery surrounding this island.Visit our new channel 'Bounce', and don't forget to leave a like and subscribehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXTDH9pVFFKgoWkex7NrhNQYou can purchase the book 'The curse of the turtle' here https://www.amazon.com/CURSE-TURTLE-Thailands-Backpacker-Murders-ebook/dp/B09QH854PC#kohtao #thailand #thailandbackpackmurders #thailandmurders #thailandmystery #thailandtourist// Download Thaiger App==================== MOBILE APP for iOS / Apple users: https://apple.co/3sFqPLU MOBILE APP for Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TheThaiger.android\u0026hl=en\u0026gl=US// Want more from The Thaiger family?================================ SUBSCRIBE to be notified of new content: https://www.youtube.com/thethaiger?suv_confirmation=1 JOIN to become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfyWB_cTvCBWau8mFcMnJkQ/join BROWSE to read the latest news: https://thethaiger.com ADVERTISE on The Thaiger: https://thethaiger.com/advertise THAIGER TALK FORUM to discuss news stories: https://thethaiger.com/talk/ EMAIL for our daily newsletter: https://thethaiger.com/subscribe LIKE and FOLLOW our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/ FOLLOW us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThaigerNews FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethaigernews/ Something went wrong, please try again later. I am 100% sure about it. I have traveled to Thailand almost 20 times. 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. This is just a backup page for the Youtube channel, plus some stuff that I would like to share. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Neill Fronde Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Elise fled 2.5km to through the jungle to Tanote Bay and took a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for Bangkok leaving on April 24. Dimitri Povse, 29, from France. Think on forehand where you want your Koh Tao hotel to be. Click on the link to read my article about it and where to go. They will also look at any health conditions that might have been a factor. All of the witnesses will be investigated as well. What's so unbelievable about all of this is that Archie actually convinced a group of friends that killing 7 people would bring baby Craig back from the dead! UPDATE: Attempted murder by Thai diving instructor, Santi Khokpool in the Fishbowl Beach Bar, Koh Tao on 28-year-old British tourist on 15 August 2020. A British man was found dead on Thailand 's notorious Koh Tao - also known as Death Island - on Wednesday. Thai beach murders: First pictures of British tourists killed "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". The final theory, is all down to money. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. 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. The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise 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 the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. The reason you didn't go there was because it was mafia ran and owned. 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. 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. My mind boggles when you order a taxi ride that takes about 10 minutes and they charge you $20. Like I touched upon, ladyboys were not looked down upon and it was disrespectful to do so. Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. Loads of beach bars to choose from and happy hours to get you started. British tourist Christina Annesley dies on Koh Tao in Thailand 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. For example, Songkran is the Thai New Year. Alex was charged with Maggie and Paul's murders days after he was formally disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. In March 2015, she vanished from her hostel, with her mobile phone, passport and camera left behind. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, from the UK. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. The photo-shopped picture below is not reflective of anything in the story - rather a hark back to the times . As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. Respect the Thai people! RME8CHF9 - Mae Sot, Thailand. This is to prevent the public from speculating and becoming scared of the area for its crime incidents.. 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. Police claim two men have admitted killing backpackers on Koh Tao island . It's not like I could do anything but get in the way anyway. Burmese are treated like shit and no one will miss them, easy target so they chose two random guys. Post-mortem examinations showed that the young backpackers, who had met on the island while staying at the same hotel, both suffered head wounds and that Hannah had been raped. A UK Foreign Office spokeswomen refused to comment on that issue but said consular officers provided support and assistance to the families of Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and Miller, 24, from Jersey. The photos show his wife . Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2023? - Traveltomtom.net . And its just claimed another two victims. This search engine for Thailand transportation also shows you all the available options in one overview. 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. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo also known as Win Zaw Htun are 22-year-old bar and restaurant migrant workers from Burma. 2 minutes read. Now I'm aware in Western culture that word is a slur, but it isn't in Thailand. In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. 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. Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists. I will reference it further simply as BAR. Why Koh Tao Murder Case Should Be Thrown Out Laura Daniels, 30, has died five years after sister Hannah, 23, was. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. Whatever the reason I didn't see him. But trust me if you travel to Koh Tao you dont get involved with daily politics on the island! Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary But keep in mind that Koh Tao is NOT Bangkok. Associate Professor Charnkanit Krittiya Suriyamanee, a criminologist and lecturer at the faculty of social science and humanities of Mahidol University, said he doubted the suicide theory citing some irrelevant evidences, according to Chiangrai Times. 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. The real story of the 2014 Koh Tao Murders : r/myfavoritemurder - reddit And its just claimed another two victims. One of the many tourist deaths in Thailand per year. Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. Koh Tao, Thailand: Photo of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge Murder In August 2020 the death sentence was commuted to life in prison under royal pardon by the decree. They were the boat boys, cleaners, shelf stackers, dish washers etc and were treated horrendously by the Thai population. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld 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. Think twice before getting yourself into trouble! Also, he noted that the several pieces of rope which were used in the suspected suicide appeared to be different which might suggest that the death was not caused by suicide.