Officer Describes Finding Britons Dead On Beach

A policeman has described finding the bodies of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, as the trial of the two men accused of their murder begins in Thailand.

The pair were killed last September shortly after meeting on the holiday island of Koh Tao.

Their bodies were found on the beach. Prosecutors say Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, had been raped and beaten.

Mr Miller, 24, from Jersey, drowned in the sea after receiving head injuries.

The first witness in the trial on Koh Samui told the court he found a gruesome sight as he arrived on the scene shortly after getting a 6.30am call.

Lt Jakkapan Kaewkao said: "I found a man's body lying on the beach with seawater lapping his body. Then I found the woman's body behind the rocks."

Spots of blood were on the rocks, he added, and the two bodies were 12 metres apart and nearly naked. Mr Miller was face down.

Both bodies showed signs of physical assault and Miss Witheridge appeared to have been sexually assaulted, he told the court.

The two Burmese men accused of the murders, 22-year-olds Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, sat in court wearing orange prison uniforms with their legs shackled. Both men have pleaded not guilty to murder.

The defendants' lawyers criticised police handling of the case during cross examination, accusing officers of failing to secure the crime scene and call in experts quickly enough.

They asked the lieutenant why Mr Miller's body was moved before medics or a forensic team had arrived and whether police on Koh Tao knew how to test for DNA.

Lt Jakkapan said he moved Mr Miller's body to stop it being washed away.

The doctor who visited them after their detention, Chasit Yoohat, told the court the defendants confessed to him as he examined them.

The families of both victims have flown to Thailand to attend the trial and were seen arriving at the courthouse on Wednesday.

During the session, they saw photos of the backpackers' bodies as they were shown to the court.

A verdict is not expected until October.

The case has thrown a spotlight on Thailand's justice system after a chaotic police investigation and questions over the arrest of the alleged killers.

Police have previously said DNA found at the scene matches that of the defendants who were working illegally on Koh Tao and confessed to the murders after being arrested.

However, a short time after being detained the pair retracted their confessions, claiming they were abused and threatened by interrogators.

The court is expected to rule on the defence team's request to have DNA evidence from the scene re-tested by an independent laboratory.

Thai police deny any wrongdoing.

Both of the victims' families have said they are hopeful for a fair and transparent trial.

The family of David Miller said in a statement: "Over the coming weeks we hope 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.

"We have borne our thoughts in silence as we have not wanted to influence any court proceedings, but simply want to see justice done fairly and openly."

Ms Witheridge's family said: "Speculation, rumour and theory have been incredibly hurtful to our family and Hannah's friends, making an already unthinkable time harder to bear.

"We of course want to see those responsible for the brutal murder of our precious girl brought to justice."

The start of the trial will last three days and the prosecution is expected to continue calling witnesses who were the first on the murder scene.