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Thailand murders: Still no suspects formally identified Thailand murder investigation stalls as DNA shows no match
(about 3 hours later)
Police in Thailand say they have still not formally identified any suspects in the murder of two British tourists. Thai police admit they are struggling to find the killers of two British tourists, after it emerged crime scene DNA did not match that of any suspect.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on Monday. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on Monday.
Police said there was no evidence linking two friends of Mr Miller, brothers Christopher and James Ware, to the murder. British brothers Christopher and James Ware were questioned but police now say there is no evidence against them.
However the men are being asked to stay in Thailand to help with the inquiry. Officers had said there was "strong evidence" against Burmese suspects, but now say there are no DNA matches.
Indication of struggle Forensic tests carried out on Ms Witheridge's body revealed traces of semen from two different men, neither of which matched DNA from Mr Miller, the Ware brothers or 11 Burmese people they have been questioning.
Forensic tests carried out on Ms Witheridge's body revealed traces of semen from two different men, neither of which matched DNA from Mr Miller or his two friends. 'Not much progress'
Police said blood stains had been found on the clothes of some of the 11 Burmese migrants who were being questioned. BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head said police have admitted they "really don't know where to look now".
Post-mortem examinations showed Ms Witheridge died from head wounds and Mr Miller from severe blows to the head and drowning. He said investigators had several problems, including that the crime scene was not sealed off and people were not stopped from leaving Koh Tao after the killings.
"The impression we got from a police press conference [on Thursday] was they haven't really made much progress at all," he added.
He said police were looking for a group of men who were heard singing "Western pop songs" near the crime scene.
'Wounds on hands'
Post-mortem examinations showed Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, died from head wounds and Mr Miller, from Jersey, died from severe blows to the head and drowning.
Police said Mr Miller also suffered wounds on his hands, which indicated a struggle had taken place.Police said Mr Miller also suffered wounds on his hands, which indicated a struggle had taken place.
BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head said witnesses had spoken of a group of men who were heard singing "Western pop songs" near the crime scene. Their bodies were found close to the beach-side bungalows where they had been staying. A garden hoe believed to have been used in the attack was found nearby.
Police are now looking for these men, he said. Members of Ms Witheridge's family have arrived in Bangkok and are expected to meet officers at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police.
The brothers, who are believed to be from Jersey, were stopped at Bangkok International Airport as they prepared to leave the country. The Ware brothers, believed to be from Jersey, were stopped at Bangkok International Airport as they prepared to leave the country.
Christopher Ware was previously questioned on Monday shortly after the bodies were found but then released. James Ware had already left Koh Tao so he was not questioned at that time. Police earlier said they were "possible suspects" but did not arrest them. Formally making people suspects is an official judicial process in Thailand.
Police earlier declared the pair as "possible suspects". Formally making people suspects is an official judicial process in Thailand. The BBC understands they have now been told they can leave Thailand.
CCTV footage Foreign suspects
The UK Foreign Office said it was "aware of reports that the Thai police have spoken to British nationals" in connection with the case. British freelance journalist Andrew Drummond, who lives in Bangkok, said the investigation seemed to have followed the "same pattern" as those into previous killings of Britons in Thailand, such as the unsolved murder of Kirsty Jones in 2000.
Mr Miller and Ms Witheridge were found close to the beach-side bungalows where they had been staying. A garden hoe believed to have been used in the attack was found nearby. "Police initially seem to always seek the foreigners or the immigrants as the main suspects and that certainly happened in this case," he said.
Police have released CCTV footage which they say shows Mr Miller and Ms Witheridge shortly before their deaths. "We've had a week of toing and froing between British suspects and Burmese immigrant suspects and now we find out that... the DNA doesn't match anybody."
Ms Witheridge's family described her as "a beautiful, intelligent, loving young woman who poured joy into the lives of all who knew her".Ms Witheridge's family described her as "a beautiful, intelligent, loving young woman who poured joy into the lives of all who knew her".
In a statement, Mr Miller's family said he was "hard-working, bright and conscientious, with everything to look forward to".In a statement, Mr Miller's family said he was "hard-working, bright and conscientious, with everything to look forward to".