Authorities in the coastal city of Pattaya announced that Simon Peter Carman, a 45‑year‑old Australian, has been charged with murder after a 17‑year‑old Thai girl, Tunchanok Donhomla, was found dead in a suitcase near a railway line on 27 June. Police said the body was discovered only 15 minutes after Carman’s arrest for allegedly attempting to flee the country, and an autopsy determined she had died from suffocation; DNA evidence linked Carman to the suitcase.
Carman stands on four charges – murder, concealing and moving the body, kidnapping a minor between 15 and 18 years of age, and removing the child for an indecent act. He claimed self‑defence and denied the allegations, yet a video from his custody session shows him expressing regret and warning other girls against similar risks.
The Thai police have said they will submit the case to prosecutors by Friday, as the indictment deadline is 18 September. If convicted, Carman could face the death penalty.
