Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Exploring the business of space pAGE 17
Microsoft coughs up €1.2bn for Minecraft pAGE 3
«
«
The pick of tonight’s essential TV crop pAGE 16
STormonT BidS farewell To PaiSley pAGE 5
«
«
dog’S dinner of owner’S ThongS
Backpacker pair are murdered on beach
pAGE 7
«
Hunt for ‘friend’ who fled after bodies were found
Bludgeoned: Tourist David Miller
TWO BAcKpAcKeRS bludgeoned to death on an idyllic island in Thailand may have been murdered by a friend, police said last night. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, both British nationals, were yesterday discovered half-naked on a beach on Koh Tao island with deep wounds to the head and face. police believe the pair were attacked with a garden hoe found with their blood-stained clothes. They suspect Ms Witheridge had been raped. Officers said they needed to urgently talk to one of Mr Miller’s friends, who left the popular diving resort on the first ferry to the mainland yesterday. police col Songsak said: ‘We wish
by niCole le marie to interview David Miller’s friend but we cannot give out his details at this stage. His name has been circulated. We need to talk to him as a matter of urgency.’
‘It’s gruesome, this was a cruel crime’ Another of Mr Miller’s friends was earlier arrested because of injuries to his hands, but later released after giving a ‘satisfactory explanation’. col prachum Ruangthong said: ‘The man was chopped in the back and
New arrival: Hannah Witheridge had been travelling with friends on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face. It’s very gruesome. This was a very cruel crime.’ The victims were at a beach party on Sai Ree Beach with about 50 other overseas revellers. Their bodies, which will be sent to Bangkok for forensic examination, were found about 100m away from the party. Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was with four friends and arrived on the island last
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it
Wednesday where she met Mr Miller, from Jersey. He had been there since August 25. One employee said the bodies were found behind large rocks near the bungalows where they were staying. ‘It was the first time this has happened on the island, I have never seen anything like this,’ she said. Islanders reportedly blockaded Koh Tao’s pier in a bid to prevent the killer escaping, but boats did later leave the island.