Thai officials asked murdered backpacker’s family ‘what’s the fuss?’

The sister of a British backpacker murdered in Thailand has attacked the country’s authorities for dismissing her family’s grief.

Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were brutally murdered on a beach on the island of Koh Tao in September 2014.

Miss Witheridge, from Norfolk, was raped before she was killed, while Mr Miller, from Jersey, was hit over the head before drowning in the sea.

Bar workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were found guilty of their murders last month.

Laura Witheridge has now written a Facebook post describing her family’s experience following the death of tourist Luke Miller on Koh Tao over the weekend.

Miss Witheridge wrote she had received death threats and had been sent disturbing crime scene photos.

She added that judges and court officials had made hurtful comments to her family throughout the trial.

These included: “Why are you so bothered? Just go home and make another one.”

She also said the family were told: “Why are you making such a fuss, she will be back in 30 days as something else, she may have better luck next time.”

She went on to express concerns about other deaths on the island, writing: “What if I told you that since we lost Hannah there have been many more suspicious deaths on Koh Tao.

"You probably haven’t heard of them all, as not all were British nationals. The deaths, where possible, are covered up as suicides and accidents.”