Australian man charged with murder in Thailand after teenage girl’s body found in suitcase
✓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 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.
Carman denied all charges, they said.
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.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
An Australian man has been charged with murder following the death of a 17-year-old girl in Thailand. Simon Peter Carman, 46, was arrested at Bangkok airport and later questioned by Pattaya City police. A body was subsequently found in a suitcase near railway tracks and identified as the victim, Tunchanok Donhomla. Carman denies the charges against him. CCTV footage obtained by police appears to show Carman and the girl in a condo lobby early Thursday morning, and later shows him removing a suitcase from the building by motorbike. Local media reported the incident followed a disagreement over payment. Carman faces three charges: murder, concealing a corpse, and abduction of a minor. He remains in custody awaiting a court date.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
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 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.
Carman denied all charges, they said.
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.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, 46, has been charged with the murder of Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, in Pattaya, Thailand. Carman was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday evening. A naked body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks and identified as Donhomla. Police laid three charges against Carman: murder, concealing a corpse, and abduction of a minor for indecent purposes. Carman has denied all charges. CCTV footage allegedly shows Carman and Donhomla holding hands in a condo lobby shortly after 3.30am on Thursday. CCTV footage allegedly shows Carman dragging a suitcase out of the building and leaving on a motorbike between 9.25pm and 9.48pm Thursday, returning without it between 9.57pm and 10.06pm. Local media reported the incident followed a disagreement over payment for the victim's time. Carman claimed to police he acted in self-defence, resulting in the girl's death. In videos taken in custody, Carman addresses the victim's family, saying the incident was 'out of my control'. Conviction for murder in Thailand carries the death penalty or 15–20 years' imprisonment. The victim's father said he was deeply saddened by the loss.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, 46, has been charged with the murder of Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, in Pattaya, Thailand.
- The teenager's body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks after Carman's arrest at Bangkok airport; he has denied all charges.
- CCTV footage allegedly shows Carman with the victim in a condo and later removing a suitcase by motorbike; local media reported a dispute over payment preceded the incident.
- Carman faces three charges: murder, concealing a corpse, and abduction of a minor for indecent purposes; conviction carries potential death penalty or 15–20 years imprisonment.