An Australian man has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old girl whose body was discovered in a suitcase. Simon Peter Carman, 45, was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday as he was attempting to depart the country on a flight bound for Perth, Australia.
The body of Tunchanok Donhomla was found dumped next to a railway in the popular tourist destination of Pattaya, south of Bangkok. Police allege that Carman strangled the teenager in an apartment near Pattaya's Jomtien beach, a well-known area for its nightlife and watersports.
CCTV footage reportedly shows Carman and Ms. Donhomla returning to his apartment hand-in-hand in the early hours of Thursday morning. Hours later, the same footage captured him allegedly leaving the property alone while pulling a large suitcase. Police recovered the suitcase off a remote road near the Four Regions Water Market on Saturday morning, where they discovered the teenager's body.
Weeks before Ms. Donhomla's alleged murder, Carman was involved in a motorbike accident with another woman, Khanittha Thongsuknmag, outside their shared apartment complex on June 5. Ms. Thongsuknmag described Carman as aggressive following the incident. According to WhatsApp messages reviewed by Australian Associated Press, Carman demanded money from Ms. Thongsuknmag, including for a wheelchair, and called her "stupid and dopey" and an "evil B***H" when she offered to use her insurance.
Ms. Thongsuknmag stated that she paid Carman 2,000 baht (approximately $A87) at the request of police, but he persisted in demanding more money. She eventually blocked his number.
Carman, who is from Ballarat, Australia, reportedly had scratch marks on his neck and arms when apprehended. In a police video, he expressed regret to the victim's family, saying, "I feel bad for what happened to your daughter - it was out of my control." He also cautioned other girls to be careful. In separate footage, he denied killing the teenager.
If convicted, Carman could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing Carman with consular assistance. Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch commented that Carman might have avoided the possibility of the death penalty had he successfully boarded his flight back to Australia.