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Zaw Rim, Win murdered Koh Tao backpackers
Hannah Witherdige and David Miller
POLICE in Thailand reveal the fatal mistake by the two men accused of murdering UK backpackers Hannah
Witheridge and David Miller on the holiday island of Koh Tao.
National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said suspect Zaw Rim, 21, took Millers mobile phone from his dead body.
He wanted to use the phone for his own use but when he discovered the device could not be used in Thailand, he
smashed and discarded it in his home, the Bangkok Post reported.
Police Colonel Prachum Ruangthong, superintendent of the Koh Phangan police station, said the device, a black iPhone
4, was taken from the shorts pocket of Miller, 24.
BACKPACKER MURDERS: What happened to David Miller and Hannah Witherdige
BACKPACKER MURDERS: Victim Hannah Witheridge raped twice
BY: IAN HORSWILL AND WIRES
FROM: NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA
3 HOURS AGO OCTOBER 06, 2014 3:45PM
Allegedly confessed to killings ... Zaw Rim, and Win, 21, murdered a pair of British tourists on a beach on the holiday island of Koh To, Thailand, after seeing them hugging
and kissing. Source: AP
Zaw Rim and Win, both 21, from Myanmar, have been charged with the premeditated murder, rape, theft of Witheridge
and Miller and illegal entry into Thailand.
Zaw Rim and Win allegedly admitted they raped and killed Witheridge after they watched her and Miller, hugging and
kissing on September 15. Miller suffered severe blows to the head and drowned in the surf, whereas Withridge was
struck about the head after both of the accused raped her.
Police brought the accused to the crime scene Friday to re-enact their alleged crimes, a standard part of criminal
investigations in Thailand.
Crowds of onlookers watched as the suspects were led to the rocky alcove along the shore where the two bodies were
discovered.
Charged with murder ... Zaw Rim, abd Win, 21, accused of killing two British tourists on the island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Source: AFP
Suffered severe blows to the head ... Backpacker David Miller, 24, was killed alongside Hannah Witheridge on the holiday island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Source: AAP
During the re-enactment, the two men wore flak jackets and motorcycle helmets as protection against angry residents,
who fear the crime will damage tourism to the remote island.
There was clear evidence: forensic evidence, (testimony from) witnesses and other evidence, as well as closed-circuit
television footage, Somyot told reporters. The police and investigation teams have analysed all evidence and its clear
that the two suspects committed the crime on that day.
The pair have not yet been formally charged, Somyot said. They are expected to remain in custody until they are brought
to court.
About 2.5 million people from Myanmar work in Thailand, most as domestic servants or in low-skilled manual labour
industries like construction, fisheries or the garment sector.
Thailands military-installed government has described migrant workers as a threat to national security, and fears have
been expressed that such workers could be scapegoats for the crime.
From now on, we have to be careful not to let an incident like this be repeated, said Prayuth, adding that he had asked
the Labor Ministry to handle the issue of undocumented migrant workers since there were reports that the two suspects
were working without proper legal papers.
Koh Tao, about 410km south of Bangkok, is a quiet, small island a short boat ride from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
The latter is known for raucous full moon parties that attract young foreigners and Thais.
Raped twice ... Two Myanmar men have been charged with the brutal murder of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on Koh Tao island in Thailand. Source:
AAP
SOURCE: http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/zaw-rim-win-murdered-koh-tao-backpackers-hannah-witherdige-and-david-miller/story-fnizu68q-
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