Death Penalty News

A British backpacker, Andrew John Brett, faces legal consequences for narcotics sale on Thailand's Koh Tao, highlighting safety and crime concerns. A shocking revelation has come to light, as a British backpacker, Andrew John Brett, faces severe legal consequences following his arrest for the alleged sale of narcotics on Thailand's Koh Tao island.  This incident brings the notorious reputation of 'Death Island' back into the spotlight, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety and crime in this popular tourist destination.

Koh Tao Island has long been an ideal destination for backpackers, avid divers and more increasingly Myanmar migrant workers. Located some 400km away from Bangkok, the small island has earned a reputation of being the best spot for viewing sea turtles, whale sharks and other wildlife. But in the past decade the island has become synonymous with a series of crimes, particularly the brutal murders of British backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller who were found dead on Sairee beach in September 2014. 2 Myanmar migrant workers, Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin were arrested and given the death penalty for the murders shortly after the bodies were found. However, Myanmar authorities and human rights leaders called for an appeal against the case, as the 2 men have insisted their innocence. Appeal for reduction of life sentence Two Burmese migrant workers have appealed for reducing their life sentence terms in a case of murder that occurred at Koh Tao island of Thailand.  The convicted ...

It has been more than three years since family members visited Ko Zaw Lin Tun and Ko Win Zaw Tun (pictured) from Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, who have been serving life sentences in a Thai prison for allegedly killing two British nationals in 2014. Family members say they have faced financial constraints preventing them from visiting the duo because their mothers are ill. “The last time we visited him was in 2019, before the Covid-19 outbreak,” said Ko Ye Zaw Tun, the brother of Ko Win Zaw Tun. “My mother has cataracts now, so it has become difficult for us to visit my brother. We don’t even have money to treat her cataracts. We will be able to visit him only when there are donors and those who will arrange for us to visit him.” Ko Win Zaw Tun’s mother is currently receiving treatment for her eyes in Kyaukphyu town. Ko Zaw Lin Tun’s mother is also ailing, with symptoms including headache and lumps on her neck. “My mother can barely speak now. And she misses her son. Perhaps she i...

This island paradise is notorious for the unexplained deaths of people who visit there. And it’s just claimed another two victims. This idyllic island in Thailand has long been popular with tourists for its pristine beaches, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and turquoise waters. In recent years, however, the unexplained deaths and disappearances of many of those tourists have earned it a reputation as a death trap. And it’s just claimed another two victims. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. Their bodies were found floating in the resort’s pool last Friday, just hours after they checked in. Disturbingly, police on the island have said CCTV cameras at luxury Jamahkiri Resort and Spa “weren’t working” on the day the couple died, fuelling mystery around what happened to the wealthy pair. Tragedy just hours after arrival The couple were Thai-Indian nationals Rakeshwar Sachathamakul, 59, and his wife Ansho...

The lawyer for two Myanmar men originally sentenced to die for the murders of two British backpackers said today he is still hopeful they were granted clemency among the king’s many recent pardons and commutations. Though Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun had their sentences commuted to life earlier this year, defense attorney Nakhon Chompuchat told Coconuts Bangkok that he is still awaiting word on whether they were among the 200,000 convicts to win shortened sentences or 30,000 fully pardoned by King Vajiralongkorn on Sunday in honor of his late father’s birthday. “I saw their conditions and, at first glance, they are fit to receive more royal clemency,” Nakhon said. “I will send a letter to the Corrections Department for clarity whether they actually got it. Myanmar officials are waiting for a more official source’s answer on this too.” Attempts to reach the Corrections Department were unsuccessful today. On Saturday, a disgraced news personality, former Redshirt movement leaders were among m...

In a case chillingly similar to the Koh Tao murders, that received international and publicity, four more Burmese men stand accused of murder in Rangong in a case that has garnered little public and international interest. In this case, four Burmese migrant workers were arrested over the murder of a 17 year old Thai female high school student on the night of September 28th 2015. According to the police Mr Moe Zin Aung, 19, Mr Zaw Lay, 25, Mr Mang Sane, 20 and Mr Kyaw Soe Win, 18 confessed to taking part in the brutal stabbing of Miss Orawee Sampaotong.  However, like Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, who confessed to the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in Koh Tao, the men say they were tortured into confessing and after receiving legal representation retracted their confessions. “The police accused us of murdering a girl and when we denied the claims we were strangled and punched in the neck” said Kyaw Soe Win on behalf of himself and the other suspects. Accord...

Thailand's Supreme Court accepted the final appeal by Thai lawyers representing Myanmar migrants Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Linn, who have been sentenced to death for the murder of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on Koh Tao island in Thailand. The final appeal, which is 319 pages long, was submitted to the court on August 21 by the Thailand Lawyers Council. In its appeal, the council pointed to evidence that Win and Zaw had been denied justice and fairness throughout the case and are innocent despite the death sentence, according to Myanmar embassy special representative U Aung Myo Thant, who is also a lawyer working on the case with the council. He said they pointed out that Thai police violated standard police procedure in the collection of DNA evidence and phone records. The council said the police failed to carry out proper procedures in searching for DNA evidence, and they forced the two migrants to admit to the murder. “We have submitted throug...

Tourists flock to this idyllic beach — but a series of events have put into question what is going on at this paradise. IT WAS supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime. Ben Harrington, a 32-year-old British IT consultant, was on holiday with his brother Mark and a friend on the island of Koh Tao in August 2012. They went to visit a friend who worked in a bar, who got them a villa on the beach, which consequently was the same beach where two Brits would be bludgeoned to death two years later . The island of Koh Tao, otherwise known as Turtle Island, is a scuba diver’s dream, and thanks to Sairee Beach, on the west coast of this Thai island, tourism has flourished in recent years. Adventure seekers rejoice in its spectacular underwater worlds, clear turquoise water and lush jungles, located in the Gulf of Thailand near the party islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. But Ben would become one of the first casualties in a string of mysterious deaths. Behind t...

The scapegoats for the “Death Island” Koh Tao murders had a very small but very welcome win against the National Crime Agency in the High Court in London – but what is the significance? On Tuesday, 29 August 2017 the High Court in London made orders by the consent of the parties in The Queen on the application of Zaw Lin & Wai Phyo v National Crime Agency. See press page from human rights NGO Reprieve including link to Consent Orders. The story was promptly published by The Guardian . The National Crime Agency (“NCA”) conceded that it had breached the law on five occasions and settled the action by consent having agreed to pay the Claimants’ costs fixed at 15,000 pounds. Below is the Reprieve statement in full: “The National Crime Agency has been forced to admit that it acted illegally in assisting Thai police investigate, arrest and convict two young Burmese men sentenced to death for the murder of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller...