Norfolk woman found murdered in Thailand

Lawyers in the trial of two men accused of murdering a Norfolk backpacker in Thailand will today make their closing submissions.

Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Gorleston, was killed alongside fellow traveller 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey, on the island of Koh Tao in September last year.

Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo both deny murder. They claim they were tortured and threatened by Thai authorities to make them confess to the killings.

Two Burmese migrants accused of murdering two British backpackers in Thailand claim they were told they would "disappear" if they did not confess to the killings.

23-year old Hannah Witheridge from Hembsy near Great Yarmouth, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao in September last year.

Both defendants who are aged 22 initially confessed to the killings but later retracted their statements, telling the court they had been tortured. But police there deny the claims of torture.

A British advisor to the defence team, Andy Hall has given evidence about the alleged torture in the trial. Mr Hall said. "They were told that if they did not confess they would simply disappear - they would be set on fire or their limbs would be cut off and sunk at sea so nobody would ever find them."

Prosecutors say the DNA evidence links the two men to the killings but the trial heard that a garden hoe alleged to have been used in the killings carried the DNA of two men - but there was no trace of either defendant.

The court is due to hear closing statements from the defence and prosecution on October 26 before delivering its verdict on Christmas Eve.

The two Burmese men accused of killing Norfolk student Hannah Witheridge in Thailand claim they were tortured and threatened to make them confess to the crime.

The pair are accused of killing 23-year-old Hannah from Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, and David Miller, from Jersey, but both insist they didn't do it, and that they were tortured to say they did. The trial in Koh Samui is drawing to a close, but the verdict could take another three months.

Lawyers of two men accused of murdering a Norfolk backpacker have been granted more time to organise their defence - potentially delaying a verdict.

The body of Hannah Witheridge, from Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, was found alongside that of fellow traveller David Miller on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand last year.

Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 22, deny the murders.

Their lawyers appealed for more time to show the pair were being used as scapegoats by the Thai authorities.

The solicitors have previously complained of a patchy police investigation and selective use of surveillance video.

The defendants have accused police of torturing them to force them to admit killing Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller. They later retracted their confessions.

The family of Hannah Witheridge have released a statement as the trial draws to a close.

Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, in Norfolk, was killed alongside David Miller 24, on the island of Koh Tao last year.

Two Burmese workers accused of the killings deny the charges, claiming they were tortured for their confessions.

British police who travelled to Thailand to review the probe into the murders of Hannah Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, and David Miller are due to return to the UK, having completed their work "as far as possible".

Officers from the Metropolitan Police flew out last month to work with the Royal Thai Police after an agreement between David Cameron and military ruler General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

It followed international concern about the way the case has been handled by the Thai authorities.

Mr Miller, 24, from Jersey, and 23-year-old Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, were found dead on a beach on the holiday island of Koh Tao in September.

Two Burmese men, named as 21-year-old bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, were charged with the killings and paraded in front of cameras after apparently making confessions, but these were later reportedly withdrawn.

UK police concerns are understood to have been around the verification of DNA samples of the suspects and allegations of their mistreatment.

Scotland Yard said officers will compile a report from their review.

Thai authorities have banned beach parties on some holiday islands after a Norfolk student and her friend were murdered last month.

23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, from Hemsby near Great Yarmouth, was killed alongside David Miller from Jersey, on the island of Koh Tao.

Two Burmese migrant workers have been charged with the murders. Last week lawyers for the suspects confirmed they had withdrawn their confessions amid allegations they had been tortured by police.

Thai authorities have banned beach parties on some of the country's most popular islands as part of a security clampdown after Jerseyman David Miller and fellow tourist Hannah Witheridge were murdered on the paradise island of Koh Tao.

Authorities say the ban is aimed at tackling crime and negative publicity as the country's tourist season reaches its peak.

Chatpong Chatputhi, Governor of Surat Thani province which includes Koh Tao, said all beach parties would be banned with the exception of the Full Moon Party on Phangan island.

British detectives travelling to investigate the backpacker murders in Thailand are expected to focus on independent checks of DNA samples central to the case against two Burmese men accused of the crime and their claims to have been mistreated.

Diplomatic sources said Thailand's military ruler accepted the sending of a delegation to investigate the killing of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller when pressed on the issue by David Cameron during their summit meeting.