An Australian man has been charged with murder after the body of a 17-year-old girl was discovered in a suitcase in Thailand. Police in the coastal city of Pattaya reported finding Tunchanok Donhomla “stuffed” in a bag discarded near a railway track early on Saturday.
Arrest at Bangkok Airport
Thai police arrested Simon Peter Carman at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport as he was allegedly “preparing to flee the country.” He denies the charges. In a message to the victim’s family after his arrest, Carman said, “I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control.”
Timeline of Events
Pattaya City Police reported that the 17-year-old had been reported missing at 17:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Friday. In a social media statement, the force said CCTV footage showed Carman entering a condominium with Donhomla at 03:34 on Thursday. Later that evening, he emerged alone “carrying a large suitcase.” The statement said he loaded the bag onto a motorbike and drove toward a railway line.
Officers questioned and arrested Carman at the airport in Bangkok, about 150 km (93 miles) north of Pattaya, at 01:15 on Saturday. Carman denied murder and further charges related to moving or concealing a body and taking a minor for sexual purposes, claiming he acted in self-defense.
Claim of Self-Defense and Payment Dispute
Media reports state that Carman told police he agreed to pay Donhomla 1,000 baht (£23, US$30, A$43) for sexual services, but they argued when they returned to his apartment and he offered only 500 baht. Thai police told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Carman also claimed Donhomla had “disappeared from the room” while he was asleep.
Message to Victim's Family
In a video recorded while in custody, the suspect addressed Donhomla’s family: “I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control. I know you’ll be very sad, upset… same [as] me.” He added, “Please tell other girls… just to be careful.”
