Burmese man confesses to Thai murders

THAI police have announced that a Burmese man has confessed to committing the murders of the British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.

The man is believed to have confessed to the murders after he was held for DNA testing at a police station.

On September 15, the bodies of the two British backpackers were found dead on Sairee beach, on the Thai island of Koh Tao, a popular tourist destination.

David Miller, aged 24 from Jersey, was killed by drowning and a blow to the head, whilst Hannah Witheridge, aged 23 from Great Yarmouth, died as a result of head wounds.

The suspected murder weapon, a bloodstained garden hoe, was found abandoned near the scene of the crime.

In a statement, deputy national police Chief Lieutenant General Jaktip Chaijinda, said: “The investigation has advanced considerably.

“Three Burmese workers were detained and we took their DNA for testing. During the investigation one of them admitted to killing the two foreigners.

“We still have to wait for DNA tests results which we expect to have in 14 hours from now in order to confirm this.”

The Burmese man who has confessed to the double homicide remains detained by the Thai police, although he is not currently under arrest, awaiting the DNA results.