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Simon Carman: Australian man charged with murder in Thailand after girl’s body found inside suitcase

Tegwen Bescoby and Chloe MaherPerthNow
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CCTV released by Thai authorities shows the 45-year-old Australian entering a hotel room with Ms Donhomla, before emerging hours later with a black suitcase.
Camera IconCCTV released by Thai authorities shows the 45-year-old Australian entering a hotel room with Ms Donhomla, before emerging hours later with a black suitcase. Credit: X/Unknown

An Australian man has been charged with murder in Thailand after the body of a teenage girl was found inside a suitcase.

Simon Carman, 45, was taken into custody at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Friday night, ABC reports.

He was preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth, authorities said.

The victim, identified as 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, was reported missing by friends after she failed to return home.

Investigators allege Mr Carman, from Ballarat in Victoria, picked up Ms Donhomla from the Beach Road vice strip in Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday morning.

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CCTV released by Thai authorities shows the 45-year-old Australian entering a hotel room with Ms Donhomla, before emerging hours later with a black suitcase.

The 17-year-old was last seen entering a hotel in Pattaya, a coastal city on Thailand's Gulf coast, just after 3.30am on Thursday.
Camera IconThe 17-year-old was last seen entering a hotel in Pattaya, a coastal city on Thailand's Gulf coast, just after 3.30am on Thursday. Credit: Unknown/X
The man is believed to be 46-year-old Simon Carman from Ballarat, Victoria.
Camera IconThe man is believed to be 46-year-old Simon Carman from Ballarat, Victoria. Credit: Unknown/X

After the teen was reported missing, authorities located her body inside a suitcase approximately 4.2km from the hotel.

The man denied involvement initially, according to The Pattaya News, but later claimed to have acted in self-defence when the teenager allegedly threatened him with a kitchen knife during an argument.

Superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu said Mr Carman had initially been charged with “taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act.”

“We believe he killed her, and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder,” he said.

“He has fingernail scratches across his body that are consistent with a struggle, but he denies killing her.

Investigations into the teen’s death remain ongoing. 
Camera IconInvestigations into the teen’s death remain ongoing.  Credit: Unknown/X
The victim, identified as 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, was reported missing by friends after she failed to return home.
Camera IconThe victim, identified as 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, was reported missing by friends after she failed to return home. Credit: Unknown/X

“He said that she disappeared from the room while (he) was asleep and unaware of anything.”

In footage recorded by police, Carman expressed regret to the girl’s family while also denying he killed the 17-year-old.

“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter - it was out of my control,” he said.

“It shouldn’t happen. Please tell other girls just to be careful.”

The man claims to be innocent, local media reports.

Investigations into the teen’s death remain ongoing.

- with AAP

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