Two Burmese, accused of murdering a couple, sentenced to death

The family of David Miller said the “correct verdict” has been reached after two Burmese migrants were sentenced to death for the murders of the backpacker and Hannah Witheridge in Thailand.

Monks were among those gathered outside the Thai embassy in the city of Yangon.

“We hope that the Thai authorities will ensure the truth in a retrial that respects worldwide human rights law and standards, so that the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller get the justice and peace of mind they deserve”.

After Britain’s Foreign Office expressed concern to Thai authorities about the way the investigation was being conducted, British police were allowed to observe the case assembled by their Thai counterparts.

Michael Miller, brother of the slain David, said “justice” had been served. “They raped to satisfy their selfish desires and murdered to cover up that fact”.

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

Throughout the trial prosecutors said their evidence against the men was rock solid.

Police have been accused of obtaining confessions – eventually retracted – through torture.

Many protesters, who believe the two men were wrongly convicted, held signs with English slogans such as “Save Myanmar Poor Boys” and “Free Our Innocent Citizens”, AFP reported.

Shortly after the murders, Mr Miller’s father, Ian, said he believed his son had stepped in to help Miss Witheridge when they were both killed.

Last October, Zaw Lin told a criminal court that a police interpreter had told him that he would be killed if he refused to “confess” to the crime, in which case he was told he would be imprisoned “only for four or five years”.

The verdict follows an investigation and trial that was mired in controversy, including allegations of police incompetence, mishandling of evidence and torture of the suspects.

Legal campaigners following the case have also criticised the role of the British government, which sent a team from Scotland Yard to review the Thai police investigation but then refused to share the results with the defendants’ legal team.

In a statement outlining the reasons for its verdict, the court said that “physical evidence at the crime scene as well as circumstantial evidence before and after the incident” established the defendants’ guilt.

Defense lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat said they would file an appeal within a month.

Majority are undocumented and, according to activists, easy prey for extortion by local officials.

Both families have attended parts of the trial, with Miss Witheridge’s relatives launching a public appeal to raise funds so they could travel to Thailand for the case.

Andy Hall, an worldwide affairs adviser with the Migrant Worker Rights Network, which has represented the defendants, said they planned to appeal against the court’s decision.

However, lawyers representing the defendants said that DNA on the alleged murder weapon – a garden hoe – does not match.

The pair were also found guilty of raping Witheridge in a ruling that was welcomed by Miller’s family, who travelled to Thailand for the verdict.

Thailand has more than 450 prisoners on death row.