Australian man charged with murder in Thailand after teenage girl’s body found in suitcase

Thailand police officers pose with Simon Peter Carman, an Australian man charged over the alleged murder of a 17-year-old Thai girl in Pattaya. Photograph: Pattaya-provincial-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="154165" data-entity-type="organization">Pattaya Provincial Police/Reuters View image in fullscreen Thailand police officers pose with Simon Peter Carman, an Australian man charged over the alleged murder of a 17-year-old Thai girl in Pattaya. Photograph: Pattaya-provincial-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="154165" data-entity-type="organization">Pattaya Provincial Police/Reuters Australian man charged with murder in Thailand after teenage girl’s body found in suitcase Simon Peter Carman, 46, has denied the charges against him Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast An Australian man has been charged with the murder of a teenage girl whose naked body was found in a suitcase in Thailand. Pattaya-city-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="154166" data-entity-type="organization">Pattaya City police told The Guardian the man, identified as Simon Peter Carman, 46, has denied the charges against him. In video footage of Carman in custody obtained by the ABC and other media, Carman says what occurred was “out of my control”. Local Thai media have reported the alleged crime began with a disagreement over money. Carman was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday evening in connection with the disappearance of Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, in Pattaya on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast. After questioning Carman in the early hours of Saturday morning, local police in Pattaya found a naked body in a suitcase near railway tracks, which they identified as Donhomla. Police said they have laid three charges against Carman of murder, concealing a corpse in an attempt to hide the cause of death, and abduction of a minor over 15 but not yet 18 years of age for indecent purposes. In videos taken while Carman was in custody he addresses the victim’s family: “I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control.” “I hope you – I know you’ll be very sad, upset. Same, same me. It shouldn’t happen. I hope you’re OK – I know you’re not – but I hope and tell other girls just to be … careful …” Carman says in the video. The footage appears to show scratch marks on Carman’s upper arms and neck which he describes as spider bites: “I think it’s a spider; they always get in here.” CCTV footage, also seen by The Guardian and verified by police, allegedly shows Carman and Donhomla holding hands in a condo lobby while waiting for an elevator shortly after 3.30am on Thursday. CCTV footage from later Thursday evening – between 9.25pm and 9.48pm – allegedly shows Carman dragging the suitcase out of the building and leaving on a motorbike with it strapped behind him, and between 9.57pm and 10.06pm returning without the suitcase. The local Thairath news website reported that Carman pleaded not guilty to police, saying that he acted in self defence which resulted in Donhomla’s death. Thairath reported that a struggle ensued because of a disagreement over the charge for Donhomla’s time. In Thailand’s criminal code, being convicted for murder can carry the death penalty or between 15 and 20 years’ inprisonment. The victim’s father, Thongchai Donhomla, 46, said he was struggling to come to terms with the loss, Reuters reported. “I am deeply saddened. My daughter had ⁠no mother, so whenever she wanted anything, she would find a ​way herself, and she ​always helped me too,” he ​said. Carman remained in custody at Pattaya City court on Sunday. He will appear in court at a date to be determined. Explore more on these topics Australia news Thailand Asia Pacific news Share Reuse this content