Surat Thani: Defence lawyers of two Myanmar suspects accused of murdering two British tourists on Koh Tao challenged a police officer involved in the case over the reliability of his investigation as the trial opened Wednesday.
Pol Lt Jakkrapan Kaewkhao, 26, head of the Koh Tao public service centre, was the first prosecution witness to testify in the murder case of British backpackers David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the resort island in the early hours of Sept 15 last year.
The officer identified Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun to the court as the accused. Later, in cross-examination, he admitted he had not been involved in such a case before.
Pol Lt Jakkrapan said he saw a body later identified as Miller's at the water's edge at Sai Ree beach in front of the King Chulalongkorn statue, so he decided to move him to higher ground.
About five metres away, behind some rocks, lay a female body, later identified as Witheridge.
The woman's skirt was pulled up to her waist, Pol Lt Jakkrapan told the three-member panel of judges. Bloodstains and human flesh was spotted on the rocks.
He believed the areas where he saw flecks of blood on the sand were likely to be where Miller was assaulted.
He found a metal part of a shovel, a wooden stick, and three cigarette butts about 60m north of Witheridge.
A used condom, grey pants with a belt, a pair of canvas shoes, and a pair of pink sandals were piled neatly nearby.
The scenario backed police reports that the two might have had sexual intercourse before they were attacked and the woman might have been raped by one or more people afterwards.
The defence team then launched a cross-examination, questioning how many rape-murder cases the officer had handled.
The officer responded "none", saying he had dealt with two rape cases previously but the victims had not been killed.
Defence lawyers also asked what academic or scientific grounds the officer cited to back his finding Witheridge was raped or whether his conclusion was based purely on his own opinion.
They also asked why officers took many hours to seal off the crime scene.
Chasit Yoohat, 51, a private doctor from Koh Tao Clinic who was called to the scene, and Montriwat Tuwichean, 46, who owns a bungalow and restaurant named In Touch, who called police, also testified Wednesday.
Dozens of observers appeared in the courtroom for the opening of the trial including representatives from the UK's Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO), London-based Amnesty International and London-based Solicitors' International Human Rights Group as well as Western and Myanmar individuals.
Defence team adviser Andy Hall said outside the court that documents received from UK authorities were inconsistent with the Thai files.
He said DNA test results did not totally match with those of Thai authorities.
Murder victims Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death last Sept 15 on the main beach at Koh Tao. (File photos)
The murder victims' families, who were present in court, issued a statement through the FCO saying they had travelled from the UK to Koh Samui "for the start of the trial into the horrific murders of our beautiful Hannah and David. We stand united in our grief and wish to have privacy to follow the trial."
The Witheridge family said police and the court should be allowed to do their jobs during the coming months.
"Speculation, rumour and theory have been incredibly hurtful to our family and Hannah's friends, making an already unthinkable time harder to bear," said the family.
The Miller family said they hoped to gain a better understanding as to "how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way".
Just hours before Miller died, "he was talking to us with his usual enthusiasm, describing the beauty of Koh Tao and the friendliness of the Thai people. This pain will remain a part of us for the rest of our lives."
The Miller family said they have borne their thoughts in silence as they did not want to influence the court proceedings.
Zaw Lin, 22, the first defendant, wrote a message to reporters saying both he and his friend had nothing to do with the crime and he did not know who did it.
"God will know that we are not the murderers and we hope to get freedom and justice," said Zaw Lin, also thanking his supporters.
Win Zaw Htun, 21, the second defendant, said he did not rape or kill the victims. He knew nothing about them and he "hopes to receive some justice".
"Being detained in the prison is already a kind of torture. I miss my parents very much," Win Zaw Htun said.