Man ‘admits’ killing Leeds University student and fellow British tourist in Thailand

The bodies of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were discovered on a beach on the tiny island of Koh Tao on September 15.

Thai newspaper The Nation reported that a Burmese man admitted carrying out the attack after he was arrested in Surat Thani on the Thai mainland.

Post-mortem examinations revealed that Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, died from head wounds.

EDITORS NOTE. The PA has been unable to verify the copyright holder of this image. Please be aware that you may be asked for payment if you use this image. Undated family handout photo issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of Hannah Witheridge. The body of the British holidaymaker who was brutally murdered together with a fellow tourist in Thailand has returned to the UK, her family said. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday September 21, 2014. Witheridge, 23, was found with severe head wounds next to David Miller, 24, on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on Monday. See PA story DEATH Thailand. Photo credit should read: PA/PA Wire

NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — EDITORS NOTE. The PA has been unable to verify the copyright holder of this image. Please be aware that you may be asked for payment if you use this image. Undated family handout photo issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of Hannah Witheridge. The body of the British holidaymaker who was brutally murdered together with a fellow tourist in Thailand has returned to the UK, her family said. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday September 21, 2014. Witheridge, 23, was found with severe head wounds next to David Miller, 24, on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on Monday. See PA story DEATH Thailand. Photo credit should read: PA/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Jersey man Mr Miller, who was three years into a four-year masters degree in civil and structural engineering in Leeds, was killed by severe blows to the head and drowning.

A bloodstained garden hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, was found near the scene of the killings.

Police investigators have previously said they believe three people were involved in the attacks.

Officers have collected 200 DNA samples from people on Koh Tao and the results are expected at some point this week.

Two different semen samples collected from Ms Witheridge’s body are the basis for the DNA analysis, Thai police told the Bangkok Post.

Last week police colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen said a reward of 700,000 baht - roughly £13,300 - was being offered for information leading to the arrests of the killers.

Around 150 police officers were posted to Koh Tao as part of the murder investigation.

Mr Miller’s father Ian has said he believes his son stepped in to help Ms Witheridge during an altercation.

He told the Daily Mail: ‘’It has become clearer and clearer that it is quite likely David was stepping in to help a girl who was in trouble.’’