Phuket News: DNA evidence questioned as Koh Tao trial opens

Two Myanmar men accused of murdering two British holidaymakers in Thailand went on trial on Wednesday in a case that caused outrage in Britain and raised questions about the competence of the Thai police and the treatment of migrant labourers.

Two 22-year-old Myanmar nationals, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, were arrested two weeks after Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found brutally murdered on the beach on Koh Tao, on September 15, 2014. Later, in cross-examination, he admitted he had not been involved in such a case before.

The woman’s skirt was pulled up to her waist, Pol Lt Jakkrapan told the three-member panel of judges.

He said the rocks were splattered with blood.

“No one wants the wrong people to be convicted”.

The pair’s defence team have long criticised the police investigation, claiming the crime scene was contaminated and that their clients were tortured into admitting guilt.

The officer responded “none”, saying he had dealt with two rape cases previously but the victims had not been killed. Autopsies showed that the young backpackers, who had met on the island while staying at the same hotel, had both suffered severe head wounds and that Witheridge had been raped.

A doctor who examined the bodies of the two Britons is expected to be called later.

“There’s no reason why this information should be withheld from the defence team”, Andy Hall, an activist with the Migrant Worker Rights Network, which is helping to fund the pair’s defence, told AFP.

Defence lawyers said there appeared to be discrepancies between DNA evidence held by Thai police and DNA tested by British police.

A few yards away was the body of fellow backpacker David Miller, 24, from Jersey.

The families of both victims released statements early Wednesday confirming they would attend the trial’s opening at the imposing courthouse perched on a hill overlooking Samui’s lush palm trees and white beaches.

“There’s a real lack of adequate disclosure by the prosecution and that worries us about whether there will be a fair trial”, Hall had said before the judge confirmed a decision on the matter would be reached Thursday. As a result, British police were allowed to observe the case assembled by their Thai counterparts.

Witheridge’s family urged the media not to focus on the “speculation, rumor and theory” that has surrounded the case, making “an unthinkable time harder to bear”.

The Miller family said they hoped to gain a better understanding as to “how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a awful way”.

“Just hours before he died, David was talking to us with his usual enthusiasm, describing the beauty of Koh Tao and the friendliness of the Thai people”, said Miller’s family in a statement Wednesday.

“We of course want to see those responsible for the brutal murder of our precious girl brought to justice”.

Zaw Lin, 22, the first defendant, wrote a message to reporters saying both he and his friend had nothing to do with the crime and he did not know who did it. “We hope the mechanism of justice in Thailand… will have the same standards of worldwide countries”. “I miss my parents very much”, Win Zaw Htun said.

“Being detained in the prison is already a kind of torture”.