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Defendants in trial over British tourists' murder 'are victims of torture' Defendants on trial over British tourists' murder 'are victims of torture'
(35 minutes later)
Two Burmese migrants on trial for the murder of two British tourists in Thailand have told the court this weekend of how they were tortured to make fake confessions.Two Burmese migrants on trial for the murder of two British tourists in Thailand have told the court this weekend of how they were tortured to make fake confessions.
Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found bludgeoned to death on Sairee beach on Koh Tao island in September last year. The judge in the trial has announced that a verdict will be read on 24 December.Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found bludgeoned to death on Sairee beach on Koh Tao island in September last year. The judge in the trial has announced that a verdict will be read on 24 December.
Police claim that evidence collected from the crime scene and security camera footage implicated the two defendants. The two restaurant and bar workers at first confessed to the murders but later retracted the admissions.Police claim that evidence collected from the crime scene and security camera footage implicated the two defendants. The two restaurant and bar workers at first confessed to the murders but later retracted the admissions.
One of the defendants, Wai Phyo, said police had handcuffed him naked after he denied he was a man captured on low resolution CCTV footage near the crime scene on the night of the killings.One of the defendants, Wai Phyo, said police had handcuffed him naked after he denied he was a man captured on low resolution CCTV footage near the crime scene on the night of the killings.
“A police officer came back into the room and flicked my genitalia very hard. I tried to protect myself but he pulled my legs apart. They also took photographs of me naked,” Wai Phyo told the court during the last two days of witness testimony.“A police officer came back into the room and flicked my genitalia very hard. I tried to protect myself but he pulled my legs apart. They also took photographs of me naked,” Wai Phyo told the court during the last two days of witness testimony.
“They also kicked me in the back, punched me and slapped me; threatened to chop off my arms and legs, and throw my body into the sea to feed the fish. They also said they would take me into another room and electrocute me.” “They also kicked me in the back, punched me and slapped me; threatened to chop off my arms and legs, and throw my body into the sea to feed the fish. They also said they would take me into another room and electrocute me.
“Police told me that as I had no passport, I had no rights,” he said, adding that his interrogators said Burmese migrants had been killed before for not cooperating.“Police told me that as I had no passport, I had no rights,” he said, adding that his interrogators said Burmese migrants had been killed before for not cooperating.
Human rights groups have become involved in the trial, noting that migrant workers from Myanmar, of whom there are about 2.5 million in Thailand, have previously been wrongly accused of crimes by Thai police.Human rights groups have become involved in the trial, noting that migrant workers from Myanmar, of whom there are about 2.5 million in Thailand, have previously been wrongly accused of crimes by Thai police.
Concerns over the suspects’ alleged mistreatment last year led David Cameron and his Thai counterpart, Prayuth Chan-ocha, to agree to allow the Metropolitan police to conduct an inquiry in an attempt to reassure the victims’ families that the judicial process was being carried out in a fair and transparent way. The Met has refused to share its findings. Thai police deny any wrongdoing.Concerns over the suspects’ alleged mistreatment last year led David Cameron and his Thai counterpart, Prayuth Chan-ocha, to agree to allow the Metropolitan police to conduct an inquiry in an attempt to reassure the victims’ families that the judicial process was being carried out in a fair and transparent way. The Met has refused to share its findings. Thai police deny any wrongdoing.
Wai Phyo said a senior police officer persuaded him to confess to the murder and reassured him that he would only serve a few years in jail. Police then instructed him on how to say he killed the two Britons during a public re-enactment of the crime.Wai Phyo said a senior police officer persuaded him to confess to the murder and reassured him that he would only serve a few years in jail. Police then instructed him on how to say he killed the two Britons during a public re-enactment of the crime.
During the four-month trial, the defence has exposed inconsistencies in the police investigation, arguing that chains of custody over evidence were broken and the crime scene was not properly cordoned off.During the four-month trial, the defence has exposed inconsistencies in the police investigation, arguing that chains of custody over evidence were broken and the crime scene was not properly cordoned off.
Last month, a Thai forensic expert said DNA samples taken from the alleged murder weapon, a garden hoe, did not belong to the two defendants.Last month, a Thai forensic expert said DNA samples taken from the alleged murder weapon, a garden hoe, did not belong to the two defendants.
On Sunday, Wai Phyo said he had found a mobile phone on the beach the night of the murder, which the prosecution says belonged to Miller. “The next day we heard about the murders and we were worried it might be related to someone involved in the murders. My friend smashed up the phone and threw it into the undergrowth behind our hut,” he said.On Sunday, Wai Phyo said he had found a mobile phone on the beach the night of the murder, which the prosecution says belonged to Miller. “The next day we heard about the murders and we were worried it might be related to someone involved in the murders. My friend smashed up the phone and threw it into the undergrowth behind our hut,” he said.
Zaw Lin, the second person on trial, said he was blindfolded by police and beaten on his chest. He also said he was attacked by a Burmese police-appointed translator.Zaw Lin, the second person on trial, said he was blindfolded by police and beaten on his chest. He also said he was attacked by a Burmese police-appointed translator.
He said he was told that if he denied his guilt during the public re-enactment, he would be killed. Zaw Lin had previously told the court that police repeatedly put plastic bags over his head until he passed out.He said he was told that if he denied his guilt during the public re-enactment, he would be killed. Zaw Lin had previously told the court that police repeatedly put plastic bags over his head until he passed out.
The judge said the defence and prosecution will be given until 26 October to deliver their closing statements.The judge said the defence and prosecution will be given until 26 October to deliver their closing statements.