Thai beach deaths: police focus on Burmese community

Police in Thailand have told this programme they have narrowed their lines of inquiry into the deaths of 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, from Norfolk and 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey.

Police Colonel Prachum Ruangthong said he does not believe the pair were victims of a robbery attempt or a personal conflict. Instead, the officers believe the pair were killed by someone intent on committing a sexual crime.

The semi-naked bodies of two Britons were found on Monday morning by a beach cleaner on the island of Koh Tao. Police told Channel 4 News that the cleaner followed a trail of blood to an area behind some large rocks, where she discovered the holidaymakers.

The pair suffered horrific injuries in an attack later described by police as “gruesome”. A bloodstained hoe, believed to be the weapon, was found nearby. It is thought that David Miller tried to defend himself before he succumbed to a series of blows.

Today, detectives questioned staff at hotels, bars and other businesses on the island and they also released several grainy images from a CCTV camera maintained by a local restaurant. One image seems to show the couple walking hand in hand. Another image depicts a man described by police as “Asian”, who the police consider a prime suspect.

It seems clear that Thai police will focus much attention of the Burmese migrant community living on Koh Tao. Several hundred Burmese are employed in hotels, bars and on local fishing boats. Today investigators searched homes occupied by migrants and displayed a number of their belongings for the cameras, including a pair of jeans which appeared to be stained with blood, and a handgun.

Contrary to a number of reports appearing in British papers, two male friends who accompanied David Miller to the island have been ruled out of the inquiry. The men have now left the island, although their future travel plans are unclear.

Finally, in an indication of just how seriously Thailand’s military government regards this incident, the prime minister, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, said the police had been instructed to “hunt down the wrongdoer” and make a “swift arrest”. Speaking to reporters in Bangkok today, he said the reputation of the nation was at stake.

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