DNA fails to link primary suspects to Thailand murders

Image provided by the Miller family through Britains Foreign and Commonwealth Office shows Briton David Miller who was found murdered on island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Photograph: British Foreign and Commonwealth/EPA

Image provided by the Witheridge family through Britains Foreign and Commonwealth Office shows Briton Hannah Witheridge, who was found murdered on island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Photograph: British Foreign and Commonwealth/EPA

Tests carried out on a group of Burmese migrants questioned after the deaths of two young Britons in Thailand have shown no DNA matches, putting fresh pressure on police to find the pairs killers.

The migrants were arrested after bloodstains were found on some of their clothes, but Thai police said no matches were found between them and two sets of DNA found on Hannah Witheridges body and on a cigarette butt discovered near the scene of the murders.

DNA found on the body of Miss Witheridge, who was discovered semi-naked alongside David Miller on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on Monday, has also not been found to match that of British brothers James and Christopher Ware, who have also been spoken to by officers.

Neither of the Wares, who are thought to have shared a room with Miller in Thailand, was declared suspects in the investigation but had been interviewed and asked to remain on the island by Thai police.

DNA traces from possible suspects could not be detected on Millers body because it was smeared with his blood, assistant national police chief General Jarumporn Suramanee said.

Royal Thai Police yesterday insisted they had found strong evidence in connection with the deaths of Miller, 24, and Witheridge, 23.

Prime minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has warned that tourists should not be under any assumptions that his country is safe.

They think its safe like where they are from, everywhere and at any time, but our country still has problems, he was reported to have said.

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DNA fails to link primary suspects to Thailand murders