British tourists' murder: Verdict due on December 24

A Thai court has set December 24 to deliver its judgement on two Myanmar nationals accused of murdering a British couple in Koh Tao island on September 15, 2014, the media reported on Monday.

Two 22-year-old Myanmarese, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, were arrested two weeks after Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found brutally murdered on Sai Ree beach.

The Koh Samui Provincial Court on Sunday set the date after hearing Lin testify in his own defence, The Bangkok Post reported.

In his testimony, Lin was asked in cross-examination by the prosecutor on how he gained possession of Miller's cell phone. The defendant said he picked it up from the beach near a restaurant.

The court gave the prosecution and the defence 15 days to submit their closing statements by October 26.

Lin and Phyo's families believed they were tortured into confessing to the murder of the British tourists.

The verdict was previously expected in October.

During the trial, the defence has also exposed inconsistencies in the police investigation, arguing that chains of custody over evidence were broken and the crime scene was not properly cordoned off.