Two Burmese men sentenced to death for murder of Brit backpackers in Thailand

Three judges found the migrants guilty of killing Hannah Witheridge and David Miller - but they claim they've been set-up.

Death sentence for killers of UK backpackers

TWO Burmese migrants have been sentenced to death after being found guilty of the savage murders of two Brit backpackers in Thailand. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the popular holiday island of Koh Tao last September.

Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on a Thai beach in September 2014

Thai cops said Hannah was found raped and beaten to death while Daniel had been bludgeoned in the head before being drowned. Three judges in a court on the island of Koh Samui sentenced Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 22, after finding them guilty of rape and murder.

Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun have been sentenced to death

They were both sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the rape of Miss Witheridge and will face death by lethal injection for the murder of both backpackers. Hannah’s family did not travel to Thailand for the verdicts but David’s mother and father, Ian and Sue, attended along with his brother Michael who read out a statement outside the court.

David's family outside the court

 Hannah, from Hemsby in Norfolk was a student at the University of Essex had met David, from Jersey, who had just finished a civil and structural engineering course at the University of Leeds, while they were staying in the same hotel on the island.

Win Zaw Htun's mother weeps after her son is senteneced to death

He said: "We believe the result today represents justice for David and Hannah. "David always stood up for justice and justice is what has been delivered today. “We respect this court and its decision completely.

The defendants legal team say they will appeal the verdicts

"It is our opinion that the evidence against Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin is absolutely overwhelming.

"They raped to satisfy their selfish desires and murdered to cover up that fact.

“They have shown no remorse during the trial.

“Initially they confessed and then recanted in an attempt to avoid justice. “We believe the correct verdict has been reached and we would like to thank those who have supported us over the last year."

The defendants' mothers wept as the verdicts and sentences were read out, only emerging from court as David’s brother Michael finished his statement. The death sentences follow a controversial investigation which included allegations of torture, mishandling of evidence and incompetence on the part of the police.

Prosecutors stated that DNA evidence from cigarette butts, a condom and the victims’ bodies point to the defendants. The defendants initially confessed to the murders but later claimed that they only did so because they were tortured.

They told the court they were beaten, suffocated with plastic bags and threatened with death whilst in custody. The migrant's from Burma, who were working in a cafe on Koh Tao, were arrested following weeks of pressure from at home and abroad.

British cops travelled to Thailand to assist with the investigation following an appeal from David Cameron to Thailand’s military ruler. Following allegations of bungling by local police forces a British backpacker named Sean McAnna was forced to flee the island claiming locals had told him to commit suicide because he was the murderer.

Then the son of a high profile local businessman was accused of the slaying but was able to prove that he wasn’t even on the island at the time of their deaths. The men still have the right to appeal but if that fails they will be killed by lethal injection.

Outside the court the migrants defence team’s leading lawyer Nakhon Chomphuchat said: “The case against the two defendants was unjustified to begin with. “The investigation and charges were conducted improperly, without any lawyers or witnesses present.

“There was no translator for the defendants and the gathering of DNA samples was done unwillingly.”
He indicated that these would all factors used as part of the appeal process.