Thailand accused told they would 'disappear' if they didn't confess

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.