Thai PM "sorry" about bikini gaffe, as murder hunt stalls

Friday 19 September 2014

Thailand's military ruler has apologised for suggesting that visitors to his country might be unsafe wearing bikinis. His comments came as the investigation into the brutal murder of 24-year-old Jerseyman David Miller, and Hannah Witheridge (23) appears to have stalled with police having no suspects.

In the face of mounting criticism, General Prayuth Chan-ocha said: "I apologise that I have spoken too harshly ... I didn't mean to criticise or look down on anyone. Today I can guarantee that Thailand is still safe ... I wanted to warn (the tourists) to be careful."

Earlier this week he had claimed that foreigners visiting the Southeast Asian country think, "...they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like ... (but) will they be safe?"

And he was quoted as saying: "Can they be safe in bikinis ... unless they are not beautiful?"

Royal Thai Police had insisted they had found "strong evidence" in connection with the deaths.

Police said post-mortem examinations had shown Miss Witheridge died from head wounds while Mr Miller died from severe blows to the head and drowning. Mr Miller also suffered wounds on his hand, indicating a struggle had taken place.

A bloodstained garden hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, was found nearby.

More than 70 Thai police have been questioning migrant workers and tourists on the island, visiting hotels, bars, homes and businesses as they search for the killer.

DNA discovered on the body of Miss Witheridge has been found not to match Jersey brothers Christopher and James Ware, who had been speaking with officers, but were not suspects in the case.

And migrants, who had been questioned after bloodstains were found on some of their clothes, are no longer suspects after detectives revealed no matches were found between them and two sets of DNA found on Miss Witheridge's body and on a cigarette butt discovered near the scene of the murders.