Police seal off Koh Tao island in hunt for British tourists’ killer

BANGKOK — Thai police have banned all vessels from leaving the scenic resort island of Koh Tao in southern Thailand where two British tourists were found battered to death on a beach yesterday (Sept 15).

Police believe that the killer is still on the island, as poor weather conditions had prevented most vessels from heading out to sea, reported the Bangkok Post.

More than 70 police officers were deployed to Koh Tao, a popular diving destination, as the country’s leaders called for a swift investigation into a pair of brutal killings.

“This should not have happened in Thailand. It will affect our image in the eyes of international countries,” said Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said police were working “to make an arrest as soon as possible”.

Local police had been alerted to the deaths at about 11am. A combined team of police, forensic experts and relief workers travelled to the scene by helicopter and found the bodies of the man and woman on Sairee beach.

The male victim, 24-year-old David William Miller, 24, had been found with a fractured skull and a deep cut to his neck, which was believed to have been inflicted with a sharp weapon, police said. The female victim, British national Hannah Victoria Witheridge, 24, was found about 20m away. Police said her face had appeared disfigured, and she was likely hit with a heavy object.

The bodies of both victims were found naked yesterday morning by workers from Myanmar who had been cleaning the beach at the time. Discarded clothing and a used condom were also found at the crime scene. Investigators also noted signs of a struggle, indicating a possible scuffle near where the corpses were found. A blood-stained hoe and sack of fertiliser were also found nearby.

Police believe that the tourists had attended a party on Sairee beach in front of Ocean View Bungalow, which is about 30m from where the bodies were found, and that the murder was likely committed between 3am and 5am yesterday.

Mr Miller and Ms Witheridge are believed to have arrived with separate groups of tourists on different dates and had not known each other before they met at the Ocean View Bungalow and had joined the party in front of the hotel, police said.

Police have released still images from surveillance cameras in the area. One showed what police said were the two victims walking together hand-in-hand. Another image from later in the morning showed a single man walking in the same direction.

Police said the man looked Asian and was considered a prime suspect, but investigators were pursuing several leads.

“We are focusing on migrant workers because of the surrounding witnesses and evidence, including the video footage,” police Major General Kiattipong Khawsamang said. “We are sweeping hotels, bars, businesses and residences of migrant workers on the beach to find the suspect.”

Another police official, Colonel Prachum Ruangthong, said investigators were also looking for a group of bar employees and had questioned a group of foreigners as well.

“This morning we surrounded three locations, including the residences of migrant workers, to search and collect DNA,” he said.

The victims’ bodies have been sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok for further investigation. AGENCIES