- Two Burmese men are facing trial for murder of Jerseyman David Miller and British backpacker Hannah Witheridge
- During court appearance on Thursday, defence team had their request granted for DNA evidence to be e-examined
- The men are due to stand trial on 8 July – if found guilty, they could face the death penalty
DNA evidence will be re-examined ahead of the trial of two men accused of murdering a Jerseyman and a woman from England on a Thai island last year.
Burmese nationals Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 21 at the time of their arrest, appeared at a court on the Island of Koh Samui this morning for a pre-trial hearing.
They are accused of murdering Islander David Miller (24) and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, from Norfolk, on a beach on the popular tourist island of Koh Tao.
During the three-hour hearing the court approved requests from the defence team for DNA evidence to be re-examined by forensic experts.
The men, who were employed as bar workers on the island at the time of the murders, are due to stand trial on 8 July.
Andy Hall, international affairs adviser for the Migrant Worker Rights Network, which is representing the defendants, told the JEP that they were pleased with the court’s decision.
‘We are really delighted with the ruling of the court today and I think it improves the chances that there will be a fair trial.
‘The judge was very fair and agreed for all the DNA evidence to be re-examined by the Ministry of Justice’s Central Institute of Forensic Science.
‘The judge said he did not want to see a miscarriage of justice.’
Mr Hall, who has worked closely with Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi in the past, added that the defendants spoke briefly during their court appearance.
‘The trial will still go ahead on 8 July. I think the court have been talking with the victims’ families, or at least one of the families, about coming over for the trial, so the the judge is very keen to keep to the date and conclude the trial within 18 days.’
The men face charges of murder, rape, illegally entering the country and residing without the correct documentation. They deny all the charges.
If found guilty they could face the death penalty.
- September 15 2014: The bodies of Islander David Miller (24) and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge are found on the Thai island of Koh Tao.
- October 3 2014: Two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 21 at the time, are arrested and charged with the murders following DNA analysis. The pair then confessed to the killings.
- October 3 2014: Hundreds of Islanders attend the funeral of David Miller at Trinity Church
- October 8 2014: A petition emerges on line calling for British detectives to launch their own investigation into the murders following allegations that the Burmese defendants may have been set up
- October 9 2014: The defendants withdraw their confessions and claim they were tortured by Thai police
- October 20 – 23 2014: The UK Foreign Office announce that British detectives will travel to Thailand to oversee the investigation following an intervention from Prime Minister David Cameron
- November 28 2014: The defendants are denied bail by a court in Koh Samui
- December 9 2014: The families of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge express their relief that the investigation is progressing but call for a fair and transparent trial
- December 26 2014: The defendants appear at court in Koh Samui for the start of their trial. However, it is postponed until July to allow for more witnesses to come forward.
- February 19 2015: A lawyer representing the defendants calls for witnesses including other migrant works and British tourists to come forward
- April 30 2015: Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo appear in court for the first time since December. The judge grants the defence teams request for DNA evidence to be re-examined[/breakout]
