Zaw Lin delivered his testimony via a translator in Koh Samui Provincial Court, claiming that he was stripped naked in a freezing room, had plastic bags placed over his head and was repeatedly asked: ‘Did you kill or not?’
He told the court that following the ordeal, he eventually collapsed to the floor after denying the crime.
However, he and co-accused Wai Phyo later admitted killing 24-year-old former Victoria College student David Miller and 23-year-old Norfolk resident Hannah Witheridge last September on the island of Koh Tao.
The pair went on to deny any wrongdoing and retracted their statements, saying that they were the result of sustained torture.
The two men worked in restaurants and bars on Sairee Beach, where the bodies of the two young holidaymakers were found.
Both accused appeared in court in brown prison tunics, their feet shackled with manacles and chains.
Zaw Lin told the court how he had been drinking with Wai Phyo and another friend on Sairee Beach where the victims were found when dawn broke the next day.
The court heard how the friend left the pair, who both went for a swim before going to sleep after drinking beer and wine, sharing cigarettes and playing a guitar.
Thai police have denied any allegations of torture, but according to one Thai news outlet, a cell-mate of the accused testified that he had seen injuries on both men’s bodies.
