British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video)

The convicted murderers of the British backpackers have launched fresh appeals against their sentence, vehemently asserting their innocence in the brutal killing of an English couple in Thailand a decade ago.

In 2014, two Burmese bar workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were accused of the murders of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao Island. Throughout their imprisonment, the pair has consistently maintained their innocence, claiming they were wrongfully convicted for a crime they did not commit.

Both now 29 years old, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun have submitted letters to Thai authorities, urging for a reconsideration of their sentence, alleging they were framed for the murders that occurred on the infamous backpackers’ haven, Koh Tao, also known as “Death Island.”

Zaw Lin implored his legal team to pursue a fresh appeal, expressing disbelief at spending nearly a decade in prison for a crime he insists he did not commit. He stressed his desire for a retrial, emphasizing his lack of acquaintance with the deceased individuals found on Koh Tao’s beach.

The accused killers criticized the Thai investigators for what they described as a mishandled inquiry. They disclosed receiving visits from a delegation of solicitors, including a British justice campaigner, during their incarceration.

Zaw Lin, communicating from Thailand’s notorious Bang Kwang jail, known as the Bangkok Hilton, pleaded for his release, lamenting the loss of his youth spent behind bars for a crime he maintains he did not commit.

David Miller, originally from St Helier, Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, both independently traveled to Thailand, where their paths intersected. David, having completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds, was backpacking with a friend following a work placement in Australia.

Meanwhile, Hannah, holding a first-class degree from the University of East Anglia, was pursuing a master’s degree in speech and language therapy in Essex.

The tragic events unfolded when David and Hannah were last seen at the AC Bar before their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach. Hannah suffered blunt force trauma to the head, while David sustained head injuries and drowned.

The murders cast a spotlight on Koh Tao, dubbed “Death Island” due to a series of fatal incidents. Though initially confessing to the crimes, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun later recanted their statements, alleging torture. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking them to the murders, but their trial revealed inconsistencies in the forensic findings, with DNA from two distinct individuals discovered on the alleged murder weapon.

Advocates argue that the pair was unfairly targeted by Thai authorities, aiming to uphold the country’s tourist-friendly image. Zaw Lin asserted flaws in the forensic evidence against him, suggesting that DNA traces could have originated from unrelated sources.

Initially sentenced to death, the pair had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment in 2020 through a royal pardon. Despite efforts seeking clarity on potential sentence reductions, their release dates remain unchanged, prompting continued appeals from their legal defense team.

Campaigners highlight concerns regarding contamination of the crime scene and flaws in forensic procedures, advocating for their acquittal. Andy Hall, an international affairs adviser for their legal team, affirmed readiness to consider new evidence that could potentially affect their case.