Update: Thai investigation continues but no suspects yet

Thursday 18 September 2014

The investigation into the brutal murders of a young Jerseyman and a young woman from the UK is continuing after tests carried on a group of Burmese migrants showed no DNA matches.

The migrants were arrested after bloodstains were found on some of their clothes, but Thai police said no matches were found between them and two sets of DNA found on 25-year-old Hannah Witheridge's body and on a cigarette butt discovered near the scene of the murders. DNA found on the body of Miss Witheridge, who was discovered semi-naked alongside David Miller on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on Monday, has also not been found to match that of Jersey brothers James and Christopher Ware, who have been spoken to by officers, but who are not suspects in the murders.

The Ware brothers, who are thought to have shared a room with Mr Miller in Koh Tao, have been interviewed like dozens of others and asked to remain on the island by Thai police, but investigators have emphasised that they are not suspects in the case.

The head of the investigation has been reported to have admitted that the killer or killers could already have left the diving resort island.

Royal Thai Police yesterday insisted they had found "strong evidence" in connection with the deaths of the young British holidaymakers.

Prime minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has warned that tourists should not be under any assumptions that his country is safe. "They think it's safe like where they are from, everywhere and at any time, but our country still has problems," he was reported to have said.

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.