UK Summons Thai Diplomat over British Tourists Murders

The Thai charge d’affaires in the United Kingdom has been summoned to the Foreign Office over concerns about the inquiry into the murder of two British tourists in Thailand.

Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were killed in an attack on the island of Koh Tao last month.

Hugo Swire, Foreign Office minister told the diplomat there were concerns about how the investigation had been handled.

Since the incident occurred, two Burmese workers were said to have confessed to committing the crime. Police in Thailand have also denied subsequent reports that the two men withdrew their confessions.

Post-mortem examinations of the two corpses found Miller, from Jersey, died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, FCO, said the call of Nadhavathna Krishnamra on Monday followed a request made by Swire to Thailand’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister earlier this month.

“ Swire stressed that there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities. He said that it was crucial for the investigation to be conducted in a fair and transparent way,” the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.