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Thailand backpacker murders: Victim's father weeps at photos Thailand backpacker murders: Victim's father weeps at photos
(about 5 hours later)
The father of murdered British backpacker Hannah Witheridge has wept as graphic photos of her body lying on a Thai beach were shown in court.The father of murdered British backpacker Hannah Witheridge has wept as graphic photos of her body lying on a Thai beach were shown in court.
Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of his daughter's body were shown on the third day of the trial of two Burmese migrants. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of his daughter's body were shown on the third day of the trial of Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo.
Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey.
Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September.Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September.
A forensic police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said.
BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher said Miss Witheridge's father and brother sat with their heads bowed as the evidence was presented in court but continued listening.BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher said Miss Witheridge's father and brother sat with their heads bowed as the evidence was presented in court but continued listening.
"Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said."Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said.
"So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.""So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court."
Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family.Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family.
"There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. We are here for David because of his tragic death."There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. We are here for David because of his tragic death.
"We'll go with the flow as much as we can. We won't comment on the trial process. We'll be dignified for David.""We'll go with the flow as much as we can. We won't comment on the trial process. We'll be dignified for David."
Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard."Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard."
The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK.
Confessions retractedConfessions retracted
The court is expected to hear what happened to vital DNA evidence that links the two Burmese defendants to Miss Witheridge's body. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. At the end of the trial's third day, the judge said police had informed him all the samples were "finished" - meaning they could not be analysed again.
Thai police have previously told the BBC how crucial DNA evidence in the case cannot be retested because it no longer exists. A DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to the prosecution case, but none of it has been independently verified, our correspondent said.
The deputy chief of Suratthani provincial police, Police Colonel Somkiat Kaewmook, told Reuters: "There are materials that are finished in the testing process, [which] means they [do] not exist. Defence lawyers had asked for the samples to be independently verified but have now been told there is nothing left of them to retest.
"But those remaining that are solid, sizable and returnable items will be there and we will send them to the court." Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag.
The tourists' bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September, sparking a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible.
Mr Zaw and Mr Wai (also known as Win Zaw Htun), both 22, were arrested several weeks later. Mr Zaw and Mr Wai (also known as Win Zaw Htun), both 22 and migrants from Myanmar, also known as Burma, were arrested several weeks later.
They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements.They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements.
The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed.The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed.
Verdicts in the case are not expected until October.Verdicts in the case are not expected until October.