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| Thailand beach murders: Police parade Burmese suspects in reconstruction of killings | Thailand beach murders: Police parade Burmese suspects in reconstruction of killings |
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| Police in Thailand have paraded the two Burmese workers who confessed to killing two British tourists in front of cameras to reconstruct the murders. | Police in Thailand have paraded the two Burmese workers who confessed to killing two British tourists in front of cameras to reconstruct the murders. |
| The two men, whose names have only been given as Saw and Win, wore hard hats against possible missiles from the crowd at a briefing on Friday. | The two men, whose names have only been given as Saw and Win, wore hard hats against possible missiles from the crowd at a briefing on Friday. |
| General Somyot Poompanmoung, chief of the Royal Thai Police, said they face charges of murder, rape and theft. | General Somyot Poompanmoung, chief of the Royal Thai Police, said they face charges of murder, rape and theft. |
| As well as the reported confession, he said a DNA match had been made between the suspects and samples taken from the victims' bodies. | As well as the reported confession, he said a DNA match had been made between the suspects and samples taken from the victims' bodies. |
| Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September. | Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September. |
| Police said Ms Witheridge had been raped by two men as a third watched before being murdered. | Police said Ms Witheridge had been raped by two men as a third watched before being murdered. |
| The two suspects (wearing hard hats) during a re-enactment of the alleged crime Both victims were found badly beaten with head wounds believed to be from a bloodstained hoe found nearby. | The two suspects (wearing hard hats) during a re-enactment of the alleged crime Both victims were found badly beaten with head wounds believed to be from a bloodstained hoe found nearby. |
| In a reconstruction of the killings, the handcuffed suspects were taken to the island's Sairee beach, where they were watched by hundreds of locals and tourists. | In a reconstruction of the killings, the handcuffed suspects were taken to the island's Sairee beach, where they were watched by hundreds of locals and tourists. |
| One suspect was seen walking from the sea to the sandy beach, holding a tool to apparently replicate the murder weapon while talking to officers. | One suspect was seen walking from the sea to the sandy beach, holding a tool to apparently replicate the murder weapon while talking to officers. |
| General Somyot claimed the crime was motivated by sexual jealousy. | General Somyot claimed the crime was motivated by sexual jealousy. |
| “The suspects saw them kissing and were aroused, so they attacked and got rid of the man and proceeded to rape the female victim,” he said. | “The suspects saw them kissing and were aroused, so they attacked and got rid of the man and proceeded to rape the female victim,” he said. |
| Human rights groups have voiced concern over the lack of legal representation for the men. | |
| Two Myanmar migrant workers suspected of killing two British tourists participate in a crime re-enactment But General Somyot claimed they had not asked for lawyers. | Two Myanmar migrant workers suspected of killing two British tourists participate in a crime re-enactment But General Somyot claimed they had not asked for lawyers. |
| “If they had asked for lawyers we would have provided lawyers for them as this is their basic right,” he added. | “If they had asked for lawyers we would have provided lawyers for them as this is their basic right,” he added. |
| Migrant workers, particularly from neighbouring Burma, face prejudice in Thailand and have been used as scapegoats for previous crimes. | Migrant workers, particularly from neighbouring Burma, face prejudice in Thailand and have been used as scapegoats for previous crimes. |
| The rape and murder of 23-year-old Welsh backpacker Kirsty Jones in 2000 was blamed on a guide from Burma who was beaten by police in an attempt to coerce a confession. | The rape and murder of 23-year-old Welsh backpacker Kirsty Jones in 2000 was blamed on a guide from Burma who was beaten by police in an attempt to coerce a confession. |
| Despite a number of arrests, no charges have ever been brought over her death.General Somyot said DNA results, CCTV footage and other evidence had supported the men's confessions that they raped and killed Ms Witheridge and murdered Mr Miller. | Despite a number of arrests, no charges have ever been brought over her death.General Somyot said DNA results, CCTV footage and other evidence had supported the men's confessions that they raped and killed Ms Witheridge and murdered Mr Miller. |
| A third Burmese worker arrested in connection with the murders denies involvement. | A third Burmese worker arrested in connection with the murders denies involvement. |
| Officers had collected 200 DNA samples from men on the island to test against two different semen samples found on her body. | Officers had collected 200 DNA samples from men on the island to test against two different semen samples found on her body. |
| David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23 Speaking to the Bangkok Post, Lieutenant General Panya Mamen, commissioner of the region’s police, defended the investigation, which has come under close scrutiny after changing direction on a number of occasions as police appeared to be struggling to identify those responsible. | David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23 Speaking to the Bangkok Post, Lieutenant General Panya Mamen, commissioner of the region’s police, defended the investigation, which has come under close scrutiny after changing direction on a number of occasions as police appeared to be struggling to identify those responsible. |
| Last week a reward of 700,000 baht - roughly £13,300 - was offered for information leading to the arrests of the killers, while around 150 officers were posted to the island. | Last week a reward of 700,000 baht - roughly £13,300 - was offered for information leading to the arrests of the killers, while around 150 officers were posted to the island. |
| Post-mortem examinations revealed that Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds, while Mr Miller, from Jersey, was killed by severe blows to the head and drowning. | Post-mortem examinations revealed that Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds, while Mr Miller, from Jersey, was killed by severe blows to the head and drowning. |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |