Australian man charged with murder after dead girl found in suitcase in Thailand

An Australian man faces a murder charge in Thailand after the discovery of a 17-year-old girl's body stuffed inside a suitcase near a railway track in Pattaya. Police arrested Simon Peter Carman at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport early Saturday, stating he was preparing to flee the country.

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I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control.

According to Pattaya City Police, CCTV footage allegedly shows Carman entering a condominium with the victim, Tunchanok Donhomla, on Thursday. He was later seen leaving alone, carrying a large suitcase, and loading it onto a motorbike before heading towards the railway line. The teenager's body was found about 15 minutes after Carman's arrest.

Carman denies murder and charges related to concealing a body and taking a minor for sexual purposes. He claims he acted in self-defense, telling the victim's family in a recorded message, "I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control."

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I know you'll be very sad, upset… same [as] me.

Media reports indicate Carman told police he and Donhomla argued over payment for sexual services, initially agreeing on 1,000 baht but he only offered 500 baht. He also claimed Donhomla had "disappeared from the room" while he was asleep. Police noted fingernail scratches on Carman consistent with a struggle, though he attributed them to spiders.

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Please tell other girls… just to be careful.

Donhomla, known by her nickname Cake, was an only child who had traveled to Pattaya on June 16, telling her parents she was going on holiday with a friend. Her father expressed deep sadness, describing his daughter as independent and helpful.

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My daughter had no mother, so whenever she wanted anything, she would find a way herself, and she always helped me too.