The Burmese migrants accused of the murder of two British tourists on the Thai resort island of Koh Tao have retracted their confessions , according to Burmese media . Following a visit from a consular lawyer , the two men , Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun , say that they made their statements admitting to killing David Miller and raping and murdering Hannah Witheridge , under duress . The two men have been in police custody since October 1 and confessed shortly after that . The murder of the British tourists occurred on September 15 . The bodies were found partially undressed with severe injuries to their heads . A hoe with blood on it was found close by , police said . Aung Myo Thant , a lawyer attached to the Myanmar embassy , visited the accused and later reported that one of the Burmese migrants had only admitted the crime after being beaten by the police and threatened with electrocution . Myanmar , a former colony which gained independence from Britain in 1962 , is also known by its colonial name , Burma . Calls to the Thai police force , and the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok , by CNN went unanswered Thursday . Torture denied . The revelation comes a day after the national police chief held a press conference denying that the police had extracted the confessions through use of torture , the Bangkok Post reported . The Thai newspaper quoted Aung as saying , `` '' They told me that they were on the beach that night drinking and singing songs . `` They said they did n't do it , that the Thai police [ along with their Myanmar-Thai translator ] beat them until they confessed to something they did n't do . They 're pleading with the Myanmar government to look into the case and find out the truth . They were a really pitiful sight . Their bodies had all sorts of bruises . I have already reported all that I have seen today to my government . '' Amnesty International called upon Thai police to launch a full , independent investigation into reports that the police have been using force to extract information from migrant workers from the neighboring country in connection with the investigation . Allegations of torture should be investigated independently , and not by the Thai police , Richard Bennett , Amnesty International 's Asia-Pacific Program director , told CNN . He also said there were questions of due process that had arisen , specifically the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession , and difficulties with interpretation . `` There is a fairly long-standing record of ill-treatment , '' in Thailand , he said . `` Impunity is also a problem . If the investigation shows ill-treatment , those responsible should pay . '' The fact that the suspects are migrant workers , many of whom work in Thailand illegally , makes them more vulnerable , Bennett added . Calls to the Thai police force , and the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok , by CNN went unanswered Thursday . Police Commissioner Gen. Somyot Poompanmuang had previously told CNN that DNA in semen taken from Witheridge matched samples taken from the two men . `` The DNA matching result is out already and they matched with DNA found on the female victim , '' he said . But Bennett said that regardless of the outcome , and despite the high profile nature of the case , proper procedure should be followed to allow justice to be properly served . `` We do n't take a position on their guilt , '' he said . `` It is a horrendous crime , and involved British young people so there is tremendous pressure to get a conviction but this should n't be a reason to cut corners . ''
Burmese migrants who had previously confessed to double murder retract charges . Police had held a press conference the previous day to discuss torturing suspects . Amnesty International condemns act , calls for independent investigation .