Murder Suspects Retract Confessions - Report

Two men accused of murdering two British backpackers in Thailand have reportedly retracted their confessions - saying they were "beaten out of them".

Police say Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, killed Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on Koh Tao island - claiming they were jealous.

The suspects, who are charged with murder, rape and robbery, appeared before a judge on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui on Saturday.

However, Aung Myo Thant, a Burmese embassy official described as a lawyer, has now formally retracted their confessions, according to the Bangkok Post, which cited Burma's 7Day newspaper.

"They told me that they were on the beach that night drinking and singing songs," he was quoted as saying.

"They said they didn't do it, that the Thai police beat them until they confessed to something they didn't do.

"They're pleading with the Burmese government to look into the case and find out the truth. They were a really pitiful sight. Their bodies had all sorts of bruises."

On Wednesday, the two men claimed they were beaten and threatened with electrocution by police.

Other Burmese migrant workers arrested over the murders say they were subjected to similar treatment.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the claims and said any confession extracted through torture should be inadmissible in court.

The suspects, who are in police custody, could face the death penalty if convicted.

Last week, they wore crash helmets and police vests to protect them from angry locals as they were paraded by officers in a bizarre reconstruction of the crime.

At one point Win was told to play the guitar as part of the reconstruction before acting out the murders of Mr Miller, 24, and Miss Witheridge, 23, on Sairee beach.

He also held a dustpan to represent the garden hoe allegedly used in the killings on 15 September.

Mr Miller, from Jersey, died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Miss Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds.