When two migrant workers from Myanmar go to trial in July for the murders of two British backpackers, their defense will depend on testimony from witnesses outside of Thailand, their defense team said.
Surapong Kongchantuk, one of the Lawyers Council of Thailand representatives defending Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin, said they can prevail in the much-awaited trial should a number of witnesses from the United Kingdom and Myanmar appear to testify.
“I am being optimistic about the case,” Surapong told Bangkok Post yesterday. “If we can get the foreign witnesses we want from Myanmar and the UK, then I am sure we will have enough evidence that will be very useful for the two suspects.”
The identity of specific witnesses the defense would like to call was not revealed, but it would likely include other Myanmar migrants who worked on the island – a numbe of which soon left claiming harassment and abuse by police. It could also include other holiday makers or possible a young Scottish man who returned to the United Kingdom after he claimed to have been threatened by organized criminal elements on the island following the murders.
July will see the delayed trial return to court for the two 21-year-olds, who were accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao following a widely panned police investigation. Both men say they are innocent and originally were forced to confess under torture.
Among the charges they face are murder, rape, illegally entering the country and residing without documentation.
Meanwhile the head public prosecutor said his side will make a compelling case with 65 witnesses to testify against the men including police, witnesses and forensic investigators.
Photo: Thai PBS
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