Myanmar investigators say the two workers accused of murdering two British tourists in Thailand are innocent. Yiming Woo reports.
On trial ... Zaw Lin (back left) and Win Zaw Htun (back centre) arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
THE trial of two Myanmar migrant workers accused of killing two British tourists on a popular resort island in southern Thailand has begun, in a case seen as a test of Thailand's justice system.
The bodies of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found on September 15 on a beach on the island of Koh Tao. Autopsies showed both had suffered severe head wounds and that Witheridge had been raped.
The trial is being held on the nearby island of Koh Samui, with prosecutors and defence lawyers submitting their plans for evidence and witnesses on Friday in the case against Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, both 21.
Accused ... Win Zaw Htun (front) and Zaw Lin arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Torture allegations ... the two men say police tortured them to force confessions. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Relatives of the defendants were in court for the all-day hearing, at which the two accused again asserted their innocence. The judge set July 8 for the trial to resume with testimony from prosecution witnesses, rejecting a defence plea to delay proceeding until they could further evaluate evidence.
Murdered ... British tourist Hannah Witheridge was raped and murdered on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied
Concern that the men were tortured by police arose in part because migrant workers are often abused and mistreated without the safeguards of rights held by Thai citizens. But the allegations also caught the attention of the British government, which expressed its concern through diplomatic channels.
About 2.5 million people from Myanmar work in Thailand, most as domestic servants or in low-skilled manual labour industries like construction, fisheries or the garment sector.
Gruesome discovery ... David Miller's body was found alongside Witheridge's on September 15. Picture: British Foreign and Commonwealth Source: AAP
Investigating police officers faced a variety of criticisms, starting with their failure to secure the crime scene and releasing several names and pictures of suspects who turned out to be innocent. After Britain's Foreign Office expressed concern to Thai authorities about the way the investigation was conducted, British police were allowed to observe the case assembled by their Thai counterparts.
Witheridge (left) and Miller (right) with friends on the evening the travellers went missing. Source: AAP
The killings tarnished the image of Thailand's tourism industry, which has been struggling to recover since the army staged a coup and imposed martial law in May.
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