Koh Tao case goes to trial

08 July 2015
Koh Tao case goes to trial
Thai police officers look on as two Myanmar migrant workers - suspects in the killing of two British tourists - participate in a crime re-enactment on the beach of Koh Tao island in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, 03 October 2014. Photo: EPA

Two Myanmar migrants accused of murdering two Britons on Koh Tao, Thailand, will stand trial today. The suspects Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun are accused of murdering British tourists David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the resort island on 15 Sept last year.
A statement issued, on 8 June, by the team of defence lawyers that have assumed responsibility for the case stated that
‘. . . this appeared to be a situation where the accused had been tortured to confess to the crimes they are accused of.’
It also notes,
‘The Lawyers Council of Thailand expects justice to be achieved for all parties to this case and is working to ensure the truth is revealed. The Lawyers Council of Thailand is confident that the mechanisms of the justice system including prosecution officials, defence lawyers and the court itself will be able to ensure that the United Kingdom, Myanmar and other countries across the world consider and accept the Thai justice system as adhering to standards of international justice.’
The case is expected to last at least three months.