Police blame ‘jealous’ friend for David and Hannah murders on Koh Tao

By Coconuts Bangkok

Sep 17, 2014 | 3:40pm Bangkok time

ABOVE: Victims Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in images released by their families.

UPDATE: Police say Ware no longer a suspect.

A local police commander said today he believes a British man being held by police was responsible for the brutal murders of two young tourists on Koh Tao.

Police Col. Prachum Ruangthong, commander of Pha Ngan police department, told reporters he believes the killer was a British travel companion who is currently in police custody, according to INN, while DNA tests are underway to establish a link.

Police said this afternoon autopsy results detailing the brutal manner of death of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, suggest it was a crime of passion and possibly revenge. Prachum speculated that the suspect, whom he identified as homosexual, murdered the pair in a fit of jealousy.

Police said DNA material will be collected and tested from the suspect, who they said is now in Bangkok and has requested to return home. He is not being allowed to depart while the investigation continues, state media reported.

Earlier police said they had detained a British man named Christopher Alan Ware for questioning. A pair of bloody pants belonging to Ware had been found in a room he shared with Miller, police said last night, and a strand of unidentified golden hair was found in Hannah’s hand.

Investigators were reportedly examining wounds to Ware’s hands for a possible connection.