DNA evidence that was found on a murder weapon that has been linked to the murders of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge does not match the DNA of the two suspects who are now being tried for the 2014 murders, according to the defense team.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found murdered on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand on 15 September 2014.
The defense team also says that another sample of DNA found on Hannah Witheridge does not match the DNA of either of the defendants. This DNA test was ordered by the defense team after the police failed to do their own testing. Andy Hall, who is assisting the defense team, said, "The police previously said they did not test the weapon, so we asked for a retest."
Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wei Phyo, both 22, are being tried for the rape and subsequent murder of Hannah Witheridge, and the murder of David Miller, on Koh Tao island. They both denied the crimes, claiming that they only confessed to the the crimes after they had been tortured by the Thai police.
The prosecutors say that Zaw Lin and Wei Phyo are linked to the killings of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller by DNA samples which were collected from the cigarette butts, a condom, and the bodies of the victims.
Police investigators are hanging their case on the DNA evidence that they say implicates the two Burmese men, who were arrested after an investigation that has been widely described as messy and unprofessional.
Let's all hope the justice be served soon and let it be in favor of the victims. Cases like this as well as that of a 21-year-old Dutch backpacker that was held hostage in a Melbourne hotel room for six weeks make backpacking a little scary. That's why it's important to be safe and vigilant at all cost while traveling. You'll never know the horrors you'll face.