Thai king commutes death row for UK couple’s killers


Hannah Witheridge and David MillerCopyright
PA Media

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The bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found in September 2014 on a beach in Koh Tao

Two men sentenced to death for killing two British backpackers in Thailand have been sentenced to life in prison.

The bodies of David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk, were found in 2014 on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao.

Burmese citizens Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced in a Thai court and sentenced to death in December 2015.

Lin and Phyo will serve life sentences instead of a royal decision.

Ms Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby, Norfolk, and Mr Miller, a civil and structural engineer from Jersey, were killed.

An inquest into the death shows that Mrs Witheridge was raped.

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Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of murder in a Thai court and sentenced to death

Lin and Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun) were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr. Miller and the murder and rape of Mrs. Witheridge.

The two men were convicted and convicted in 2015 and the conviction was upheld in 2017 by an appellate court and the Supreme Court in August 2019.

The beliefs were shrouded in controversy, with supporters of both men claiming they were framed because their first confessions were made under duress.

A royal decree said the saints were recognized on July 28 to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn’s birthday and to illustrate “the king’s confession”.

It is unclear how many prisoners were eligible for any pardons or reduction of sentences under the various criteria mentioned in the decree.