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| Thailand deaths of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller: Verdict expected on Christmas Eve | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Thai judge in the trial of two migrant workers accused of killing two British tourists will announce the verdict on Christmas Eve, according to reports. | |
| Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao in September last year. | Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao in September last year. |
| Two Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo deny involvement in the murders. | Two Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo deny involvement in the murders. |
| The chief defence lawyer told Reuters: "The verdict will be on 24 December." | |
| Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller were found bludgeoned to death on the southern island of Koh Tao. A post-mortem examination showed Witheridge had been raped. | Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller were found bludgeoned to death on the southern island of Koh Tao. A post-mortem examination showed Witheridge had been raped. |
| The killings raised questions about the safety of tourists in Thailand, the competence of its police force and its treatment of migrant workers. | The killings raised questions about the safety of tourists in Thailand, the competence of its police force and its treatment of migrant workers. |
| Both defendants, aged 22, initially confessed to the killings but later retracted these statements, saying they had been tortured. | Both defendants, aged 22, initially confessed to the killings but later retracted these statements, saying they had been tortured. |
| 'False confessions' | 'False confessions' |
| Prosecutors say DNA evidence links the two men to the killings, but the trial heard that DNA from a garden hoe allegedly used to kill two British tourists on a Thai island does not match samples taken from two men accused of the killings | Prosecutors say DNA evidence links the two men to the killings, but the trial heard that DNA from a garden hoe allegedly used to kill two British tourists on a Thai island does not match samples taken from two men accused of the killings |
| Lawyers for the accused have made police incompetence and mishandling of evidence central to their defence. | Lawyers for the accused have made police incompetence and mishandling of evidence central to their defence. |
| Defence lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat told Reuters: "There is a chance we can still win." | |
| He said inconsistencies in the police investigation, including not sealing off the crime scene properly, could work in favour of the defence. | |
| The trial, which started in July, ended this weekend with the men alleging they were tortured and sexually assaulted to make false confessions. | The trial, which started in July, ended this weekend with the men alleging they were tortured and sexually assaulted to make false confessions. |
| Andy Hall, a Thailand-based activist for the rights of migrant workers who is helping with the defence, said there needs to be an urgent investigation into sexual assault allegations. | Andy Hall, a Thailand-based activist for the rights of migrant workers who is helping with the defence, said there needs to be an urgent investigation into sexual assault allegations. |
| The defence and prosecution have been given until 26 October to deliver their written closing statements. | The defence and prosecution have been given until 26 October to deliver their written closing statements. |