THAILAND: A hotel in Koh Tao, Thailand releases surveillance video showing the last moments of murdered British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in the early hours of September 15

Record ID: 435063

  • Title: THAILAND: A hotel in Koh Tao, Thailand releases surveillance video showing the last moments of murdered British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in the early hours of September 15
  • Date: 21st September 2014
  • Summary: KOH TAO ISLAND, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 21, 2014) (REUTERS) HOTEL WORKER POINTING TO CLOSE CIRCUIT CAMERA THAT FILMED FIRST VIDEO OF WITHERIDGE WALKING WITH FRIEND TOWARD BEACH BAR STAFF SHOWING ANOTHER CAMERA ON ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ALLEY THAT RECORDED THE LAST MOVEMENTS OF MILLER VARIOUS OF STILL VIDEO FRAME SHOWING MILLER AND FRIENDS HEADING TOWARDS HOTEL FROM BEACH BAR (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BAN'S DIVE RESORT STAFF MEMBER 'SOM' SAYING; "Around 1:56 am, he (Miller) walked from Sairee beach in the south towards the north." TOURIST POLICE OFFICER TALKING TO TOURIST ON BEACH PLAINCLOTHES AND UNIFORMED POLICEMEN ON BEACH GREETING TOURIST VARIOUS OF TOURISTS ON BEACH
  • Embargoed: 6th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVA8LTLZZVZHTHPKAZOMYEOL9KO3
  • Story Text: Surveillance video showing the last moments of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in the early hours of September 15 was released on Saturday (September 20). The footage belongs to Ban's Dive Resort, a hotel near Sairee beach where the badly disfigured bodies of Miller and Witheridge were found.
    The cameras captured various movements of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller as they walked separately back and forth between their hotel and a beach bar between 7 pm on September 14 and 1:46 am on September 15.

    "Around 1:56 am, he (Miller) walked past from Sairee beach in the south toward north." said a hotel staff member who identified herself only 'Som' who showed media still frames of video captured by close circuit cameras.
    The bodies of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 24, were found early on Monday (September 15) on Sairee beach on Koh Tao, a southern island known for its coral reefs and diving. Both bodies were found naked.
    Thai police continued to investigate the killings of the two British tourists in southern Koh Tao island and confirmed the suspects are Asian.
    Police found the DNA of two people in semen taken from Witheridge's body, the chief of Thailand's forensic police, Pornchai Suteerakune, told Reuters on Thursday (September 20). The DNA does not match Miller's, nor any of the samples taken from those questioned over the murders.
    On Friday (September 19), police collected more DNA from 30 locals and migrant workers nearby the scene.
    The two deaths bring the number of UK nationals murdered in Thailand to 13 since 2009, the British Consulate said on Wednesday (September 24). Some 800,000 Britons visit Thailand each year, among more than 25 million foreign visitors.
    The autopsy also revealed that water was found in Miller's lungs suggesting that he could have drowned, Pornchai said. Both victims were found with head wounds that had led police to conclude initially they were bludgeoned to death.
    The victims' bodies have been handed over to family members in Thailand for repatriation.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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