Murdered Tourist Believed To Be Essex Student

16 September 2014, 08:08 | Updated: 16 September 2014, 08:10

It has emerged one of the British tourists murdered in Thailand is believed to be a student at the University of Essex.

23 year-old Hannah Witheridge, who is originally from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, was discovered with serious head injuries on a beach on the island of Koh Toa yesterday/

Her body was found along with that of 24 year-old David Miller from Jersey.

Police investigating their murder say they are now focusing their investigation on "migrant workers" and have found a bloodstained hoe, believed to be the murder weapon.

Officers have released still images from CCTV cameras in the area, one of which shows what police said were the two victims walking together hand-in-hand.

They said a man pictured in a later image, who looked Asian, was considered a prime suspect, but they added they are following a number of leads in the case.

"We are focusing on migrant workers because of the surrounding witnesses and evidence, including the video footage,'' Major General Kiattipong Khawsamang said.

"We are sweeping hotels, bars, businesses and residences of migrant workers on the beach to find the suspect.''

Ms Witheridge's father Tony told a newspaper his family was "distraught'' at receiving "the most devastating news''.

It was not thought the victims were a couple, but had met recently on the island.

Their bodies were found on a rocky section of the shore around 100 yards from the scene of a beach party.

Police said they had sustained horrific injuries - the man was chopped in the back and on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face.

Local people gathered last night for a candlelit vigil in memory of the victims.

Tributes to the pair were paid on social media sites, with one Twitter user saying he felt "sick and upset'' after hearing of the death of a school friend.

Britons living on the Thai island posted on a special tribute site to Hannah.

One said: "As a UK citizen and a resident of Koh Tao I am deeply saddened by the recent events.''

The island's bright coral, sharks and rays bring in divers, hikers enjoy jungle walks and the bar scene ``rages on until dawn'', according to the Lonely Planet travel guide.

The murders could badly damage tourism in Thailand which has already been affected by the country's deep political crisis and the introduction of martial law.

Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha said: "This should not have happened in Thailand. It will affect our image in the eyes of international countries.''

Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan said police hoped "to make an arrest as soon as possible.''

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said yesterday that staff from its Bangkok office were on their way to Koh Tao.

"We are aware of the death of two British nationals on 15 September on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. The Embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and Consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time,'' she said.