2 men sentenced to death over backpacker killings in Thailand

Andy Hall, a Thailand-based activist for the rights of migrant workers, said the defence team was surprised by the sentence and that volunteers would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the two men.

Experts say the case has been poorly handled since the beginning.

The police probe has been dogged by accusations of incompetence.

DNA evidence showed that the semen of both men was found inside Witheridge, the court said.

A panel of three judges delivered their verdict on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui.

When the bodies were found, police said that Witheridge had been raped and was bludgeoned to death, and Miller suffered blows to the head before being drowned in the sea.

The case hinged on DNA evidence that police and prosecutors say link the suspects to the crime but the defense says is flawed.

But in a statement released through British police her family said the end of the trial brought a “whirlwind of emotions and difficulties”.

British police officers travelled to Thailand to help with the investigation into the deaths following a direct appeal from Prime Minister David Cameron to Thailand’s military ruler.

They also hinted they were looking at someone from a powerful family on Koh Tao – shortly before the police commander in charge of the investigation was abruptly transferred this line of inquiry was dropped.

Gruesome pictures of the victims’ bodies also quickly emerged online, piling on the misery of their distraught families.

They demonstrators dispersed after their request to see the Thai ambassador was turned down.

Following weeks of pressure to solve the case, police arrested Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun and later said the two had confessed to the crimes.

It said its ruling did not depend on what the defendants said during interrogation by police.

Among these crucial pieces of evidence are DNA test results.

The murders stained Thailand’s reputation as a tourist haven but did not prompt a significant fall in visitor numbers in a sector that has remained buoyant despite the nation’s history of coups and conflict.

The families of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, finally saw justice done when the murderers were finally brought to book for their heinous crimes perpetrated as far back as 2014.

Miss Witheridge was described as “a handsome, intelligent, loving young woman who poured joy into the lives of all who knew her”, while Mr Miller was a “hard-working, bright and conscientious” young man who would be “sorely, sorely missed”. The victims were not a couple and no evidence has been presented that they were having sex when attacked.

The long-awaited verdicts in their trial were delivered at a court on the island of Koh Samui as both men were found guilty of murder and rape, issued with the death penalty as punishment.

In an emotional statement after the verdict, Miller’s family said they had initial doubts about the investigation but found the evidence against the accused to be “absolutely overwhelming”.