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Thailand murders: Two men found guilty and face death for UK killings Thailand murders: Two men found guilty and face death for UK killings
(about 1 hour later)
Two Burmese men have been found guilty and sentenced to death for murdering two UK tourists in Thailand last year.Two Burmese men have been found guilty and sentenced to death for murdering two UK tourists in Thailand last year.
Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo killed Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, judges said.Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo killed Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, judges said.
The backpackers' bodies were found on a beach on the southern Thai island of Koh Tao on 15 September 2014.The backpackers' bodies were found on a beach on the southern Thai island of Koh Tao on 15 September 2014.
The accused retracted their initial confessions saying police had tortured them, but Mr Miller's brother said justice had now "been delivered".The accused retracted their initial confessions saying police had tortured them, but Mr Miller's brother said justice had now "been delivered".
Miss Witheridge's family said the verdict had left them "in the path of a whirlwind of emotions and difficulties".
The flawed case of the Thailand beach murdersThe flawed case of the Thailand beach murders
Live updates: Reaction after two men sentenced to death
At a Thai court in Koh Samui, three judges found the two bar workers - who were migrants from Myanmar - guilty of murder and ordered that they face the death penalty.At a Thai court in Koh Samui, three judges found the two bar workers - who were migrants from Myanmar - guilty of murder and ordered that they face the death penalty.
Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller were found bludgeoned to death, and a post-mortem examination showed Miss Witheridge had been raped.Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller were found bludgeoned to death, and a post-mortem examination showed Miss Witheridge had been raped.
Prosecutors said DNA evidence collected from cigarette butts, a condom and the bodies of the victims, linked Lin and Phyo to the deaths.Prosecutors said DNA evidence collected from cigarette butts, a condom and the bodies of the victims, linked Lin and Phyo to the deaths.
But lawyers defending the accused argued that DNA from a garden hoe - allegedly used as the murder weapon - did not match samples taken from the men.But lawyers defending the accused argued that DNA from a garden hoe - allegedly used as the murder weapon - did not match samples taken from the men.
They also claimed evidence had been mishandled by police and the pair's confessions were the result of "systematic abuse" of migrants in the area.They also claimed evidence had been mishandled by police and the pair's confessions were the result of "systematic abuse" of migrants in the area.
The victims met on Koh Tao while staying in the same hotel.The victims met on Koh Tao while staying in the same hotel.
'Justice delivered''Justice delivered'
Miss Witheridge was a University of Essex student from Hemsby and Mr Miller had just completed a civil and structural engineering degree at the University of Leeds.Miss Witheridge was a University of Essex student from Hemsby and Mr Miller had just completed a civil and structural engineering degree at the University of Leeds.
The family of Mr Miller attended the hearing but relatives of Miss Witheridge did not travel to Thailand for the verdicts.The family of Mr Miller attended the hearing but relatives of Miss Witheridge did not travel to Thailand for the verdicts.
A statement from her family said: "The past year has served as an unimaginably impossible time for our family. We have found the trial process extremely difficult and our trips out to Thailand, to attend court, made for particularly distressing experiences.
"We found listening to proceedings very challenging and we have had to endure a lot of painful and confusing information. We now need time, as a family, to digest the outcome of the trial and figure out the most appropriate way to tell our story."
Speaking outside court, Mr Miller's brother Michael said "justice is what has been delivered today", and said Thai police had carried out a "methodical and thorough" investigation.Speaking outside court, Mr Miller's brother Michael said "justice is what has been delivered today", and said Thai police had carried out a "methodical and thorough" investigation.
He said the evidence against the accused was "absolutely overwhelming", and he went on to describe his brother David as "irreplaceable".He said the evidence against the accused was "absolutely overwhelming", and he went on to describe his brother David as "irreplaceable".
'Left to die''Left to die'
Mr Miller said he hoped that campaigners who "relentlessly" championed the cause of the accused and believed their innocence would respect the court's decision.Mr Miller said he hoped that campaigners who "relentlessly" championed the cause of the accused and believed their innocence would respect the court's decision.
Mr Miller acknowledged that initially when Lin and Phyo were brought forward as suspects, and the family saw pictures of two "innocent-looking men surrounded by tough policemen, it was easy to conclude they might be convenient scapegoats".Mr Miller acknowledged that initially when Lin and Phyo were brought forward as suspects, and the family saw pictures of two "innocent-looking men surrounded by tough policemen, it was easy to conclude they might be convenient scapegoats".
But he said the family resolved to keep an open mind and listen to all the evidence.But he said the family resolved to keep an open mind and listen to all the evidence.
He said the widespread interest in the case had ensured the defendants received the "best possible representation in court by a team of seven top lawyers".He said the widespread interest in the case had ensured the defendants received the "best possible representation in court by a team of seven top lawyers".
"[David] was hacked down from behind, dragged into the sea and left to die. That will live with us forever," he added."[David] was hacked down from behind, dragged into the sea and left to die. That will live with us forever," he added.
"The correct verdict has been reached.""The correct verdict has been reached."
The family of Miss Witheridge previously said their "bubbly and intelligent" daughter, who gained a first-class honours degree at university, had been "taken from us in the most horrific way possible".The family of Miss Witheridge previously said their "bubbly and intelligent" daughter, who gained a first-class honours degree at university, had been "taken from us in the most horrific way possible".
"She would have gone on to make a significant difference to the lives of many people," they said."She would have gone on to make a significant difference to the lives of many people," they said.