Two Britons are under watch in Thailand in connection with the killings on a popular resort island of two of their fellow countrymen -- one a woman who'd been beaten and whose body showed shown signs of sexual activity; the other a man who was beaten and who drowned - authorities said Wednesday.
An autopsy revealed both slain tourists had been hit by a hard object, according to Maj. Gen. Pornchai Suteerakhun, the head of the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine.
David Miller, 24, was hit and had scratches on his back, in addition to having water in his lungs consistent with drowning, an autopsy showed. The other victim, 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, was hit several times on her head and face and her body had evidence of sexual intercourse, according to her autopsy.
Pornchai didn't confirm or deny that authorities believe Witheridge was raped.
The Suranthani provincial police chief, Kiatthipong Khaosumarng, said that two sets of DNA have been found on Witheridge's body, indicating at least two culprits in her death. Neither set matches that of Miller, the chief said.
No one has been arrested yet in the deaths, nor has anyone been officially named a suspect. However, Kiatthipong told reporters Wednesday that two British citizens are under watch in the case and have been asked not to travel.
They are Christopher Ware, Miller's roommate, and, James Ware, Christopher's brother, Kiatthipong said.
"The matching process is ongoing" to determine if Christopher Ware's DNA matches one of the sets found on Witheridge, Kiatthipong said. Police interviewed Chistopher Ware on the small southern island of Koh Tao where the victims were found a beach Monday, then again in Bangkok.
Kiatthipong added that "we are going to collect ... DNA from James" as well, to conduct a similar test.
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