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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Australian Accused of Thai Teen's Murder Tells Family 'It Was Out of My Control'

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Australian Simon Peter Carman has been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old girl, Tunchanok Donhomla, in Thailand.
  • Police found the victim's body in a suitcase near railway tracks after she was last seen with Carman at a Pattaya hotel.
  • Carman denies the charges, claiming the death was "out of my control" and that he acted in self-defense, while also expressing sorrow to the victim's family.

An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, faces serious charges in Thailand following the discovery of a 17-year-old girl's body. Tunchanok Donhomla was found naked in a suitcase near railway tracks after being last seen with Carman at a Pattaya hotel early Friday morning.

It was out of my control. Um, I hope you, I know you'll be very sad, upset; same-same me. Um, it shouldn't happen and I hope you're OK. I know you're not, but I hope. Um, and please tell other girls to be not, just to be careful, and not, I don't wanna talk [unintelligible].

— Simon Peter CarmanAddressing the victim's family while in custody.

Carman was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport and has been charged with murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes. Police told the ABC that Carman denies all charges, stating that Ms. Donhomla "disappeared from the room while I was asleep." He also reportedly claimed self-defense, alleging the victim threatened him with a knife.

Thai media reported that Carman said he met Ms. Donhomla for the first time in Pattaya and that they had an argument over payment after agreeing on 1,000 baht but he offered 500 baht instead. Police have not confirmed these details. In a video recorded in custody, Carman addressed Ms. Donhomla's family, saying, "It was out of my control. Um, I hope you, I know you'll be very sad, upset; same-same me."

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

— Police Colonel Anek SarathongyuStatement from the Superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station.

CCTV footage shows Carman dragging a large suitcase out of his room on a motorcycle late Friday night and returning later. A missing person report was filed on Saturday after a friend last saw Ms. Donhomla with a foreign man. Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu confirmed Carman is being questioned on suspicion of murder and noted "fingernail scratches across his body that are consistent with a struggle," though Carman attributed scratches on his neck to spiders.

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

— Police Colonel Anek SarathongyuDescribing evidence found on the suspect.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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