Two men have been found guilty and sentenced to death for the murders of a pair of British tourists in Thailand last year.

The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were discovered on a beach on the holiday island of Koh Tao on 15 September, 2014.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, also known as Win Zaw Htun, initially confessed to the killings but later retracted their statements - claiming they had been tortured by police.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence found on cigarette butts, a condom and the bodies linked the men, both from Myanmar, to the killings.

This account was disputed by the defence team who said evidence was mishandled by police.

David Miller's family made a statement outside the court. His brother Michael said: "He should not have died that night. David died from drowning, after being hit multiple times.

"Blunt trauma broke his jaw, his cheekbone and fractured his skull. He was hacked down from behind, dragged into the sea and left to die. That will live with us for ever.

"What happened to Hannah Witheridge is unspeakable.

"We believe the result today represents justice for Hannah and David."

Speaking about the two guilty men, he added: "They raped to satisfy their selfish desires and murdered to cover up that fact. They have shown no remorse during the trial."

Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller met on Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel.

Post-mortem examinations showed both had suffered severe head wounds.

Miss Witheridge had been raped while Mr Miller died after being hit over the head before drowning in the sea.