Officer describes finding bloodied bodies of British backpackers on rocks

A police officer has described finding the bodies of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, as the trial of the two men accused of their murder begins in Thailand. Lt Jakrapan Kaewkao, told the court he found a gruesome sight as he arrived on the beach scene shortly after getting a 6.30am call. Spots of blood were on the rocks, he added, and the two bodies were several metres apart and nearly naked. The pair were killed last September shortly after meeting on the holiday island of Koh Tao. Prosecutors say Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, had been raped and beaten. Mr Miller, 24, from Jersey, drowned in the sea after receiving head injuries.

I found a man’s body lying on the beach with seawater lapping his body. Then I found the woman’s body behind the rocks.

Lt Jakrapan Kaewkao

Both bodies showed signs of physical assault and Miss Witheridge appeared to have been sexually assaulted, Lt Kaewkao told the court. The two Burmese men accused of the murders, 22-year-olds Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, sat in court wearing orange prison uniforms with their legs shackled. Police say DNA found at the scene matches that of the defendants who were working illegally on Koh Tao and confessed to the murders after being arrested. However, a short time after being detained the pair retracted their confessions. The families of both victims have flown to Thailand to attend the trial and were seen arriving at the courthouse on Koh Samui. A verdict is not expected until October.

Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way.

The family of David Miller

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