Family of backpacker murdered on beach tell of ‘tortuous pain’
THE family of a British backpacker murdered in Thailand have described their “torturous pain” a year on from her death.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and former Leeds University student David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15, last year.
Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are on trial for murder after denying their involvement.
In a statement, Miss Witheridge’s family said their lives “changed forever” on the day of her murder.
They added: “Our beautiful Hannah was taken from us in the most horrific way possible.
“Losing someone you love is always difficult but losing someone so senselessly and unexpectedly, at such an early stage of their life, makes for an indescribably impossible time.
“Hannah was a fun, vibrant and talented young woman. She was always happy and possessed a unique ability to find good in everyone and everything.
“Along with her bubbly and exciting personality, Hannah was extremely intelligent and after earning a degree with first class honours from the University of East Anglia was working towards a masters degree in speech and language therapy in Essex.
“She would have gone on to make a significant difference to the lives of many people.”
The family, who have travelled to Thailand for parts of the mur- der trial, added that time had not made their suffering any easier.
The pair’s bodies were found on a beach on Koh Tao. Miss Witheridge had been raped while Mr Miller died after being hit over the head.
Both defendants, aged 22, initially confessed to the killings but later retracted these statements, saying they had been tortured.
Prosecutors say DNA evidence, collected from cigarette butts, a condom and the victims’ bodies, links the two Burmese men to the killings.
But the trial on the island of Koh Samui has heard that a garden hoe alleged to have been used in the killings carried the DNA of two men but there was no trace of either defendant.
7.30am – Holy Communion, 8.30am – Morning Prayer, 10.15am – Holy Communion, 1.00pm – Organ Recital, 5.30pm – Evening Prayer.
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Noon – Angelus and Rosary, 12.30pm – Holy Mass, 5.10pm – Vespers (sung), 5.30pm – Holy Mass.
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