Two Myanmar suspects
who earlier admitted to the killings of British backpackers David
Miller and Hannah Witheridge in Koh Tao have spectacularly retracted
their confessions, their lawyers say.
They said they were beaten and forced to confess, Mr Rassada Manoorassada, a lawyer of the Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA) said.
The two migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun were
named as suspects soon after the bodies of the two tourists were found
on Sairee beach on the idyllic holiday island.
But the HRLA
lawyer now said that both suspects said they did not kill Ms Witheridge
and Mr Miller, nor did they see what happened after they visited them
in the Koh Samui prison Monday.
Mr Rassada said he was told by Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun
that they had to confess one week after the murders that they were
physically abused by the police.
They said the interpreter the police arranged also is not of their ethnic and dialect and this interpreter also kicked them to confess, the lawyer said.
He said parents of both suspects were expected to arrive in Samui to visit their sons today.
The two suspects are charged with conspiracy to murder,
conspiracy to rape, and robbery and, if charged, they could face the
death penalty.
But the state prosecutor has delayed the prosecution of the
two in court with reason that the case file submitted for prosecution
lacked substantial evidence and needed to be improved.
Post-mortem examinations found Mr Miller died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Ms Witheridge died from head wounds.
British ambassador Mark Kent met
the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) president Mrs Amara Pongsapich yesterday to discuss on the murder suspects.
the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) president Mrs Amara Pongsapich yesterday to discuss on the murder suspects.
Mrs Amara disclosed that the ambassador inquired about the scope of authority of the NHRC and the human rights’ view on the case.
She said the ambassador was happy that the NHRC has worked in the case as it would be another version of information different from that of the Thai police.
She said the NHRC has evidence of physical assault though the police had denied it.
She was told that the British police would arrive next week to observe the investigation.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/myanmar-suspects-formally-retract-confession/
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