Murder case evidence ‘mishandled’

A Burmese legal team have sent a seven-page document to the Lawyers Council of Thailand outlining what they describe as the ‘mishandling of evidence’, particularly DNA evidence, during the investigation into the murders of former Victoria College student David Miller (24) and Hannah Witheridge (23).

Burmese nationals Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo have been convicted of the murders on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014 and sentenced to death.

Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge’s bodies were found on a beach on the island. They had both suffered severe head injuries and a blood-stained garden hoe, said to be the murder weapon, was found nearby. Miss Witheridge had also been raped.

Aung Myo Thant, a legal adviser at the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, said the points that had been raised about the DNA evidence could lead to the men’s convictions being overturned.

‘Matters regarding DNA evidence were especially emphasised. There was much mishandling of evidence,’ the lawyer said.

An appeal is due to be brought before Thailand’s Supreme Court before 23 June.

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