Australian man charged with murder of Thai teenager found dead in suitcase in Pattaya

Simon Peter Carman, a 45-year-old British-born Australian handyman, has been charged with murdering 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, whose body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya, Thailand. Carman allegedly met the teenager on Beach Road, brought her to his condominium, and later attempted to flee to Perth before being arrested at Bangkok's airport. He claims self-defense after a dispute over payment of 1,000 baht ($43.45), while CCTV footage allegedly shows him wheeling the suitcase away. The victim's parents demand execution, and Carman faces charges including murder and offenses relating to a minor, which can carry the death penalty in Thailand.

Pattaya suitcase murder case

• ▪Simon Peter Carman and Tunchanok Donhomla met on Beach Road early on Thursday morning before going back to Simon Peter Carman's condominium
• ▪Simon Peter Carman, 45, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, whose body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya
• ▪The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Simon Peter Carman detained in Thailand

Carman lifestyle in Thailand

• ▪Simon Peter Carman paid $100 a week in rent at the Rimhad Jomtien Condominium complex
• ▪Simon Peter Carman told people that Simon Peter Carman was from Ballarat in Victoria
• ▪Simon Peter Carman worked as a handyman at the Rimhad Jomtien Condominium complex
• ▪Simon Peter Carman had been living for eight months in the Rimhad Jomtien Condominium complex in Pattaya

Alleged payment dispute

• ▪Simon Peter Carman allegedly told authorities that Simon Peter Carman and Tunchanok Donhomla had agreed Simon Peter Carman would pay Tunchanok Donhomla 1,000 baht (AU$43.45)
• ▪Simon Peter Carman and Tunchanok Donhomla allegedly had an argument when Simon Peter Carman offered 500 baht (AU$21.72) instead of the agreed 1,000 baht
• ▪Simon Peter Carman allegedly told investigators that Tunchanok Donhomla had attacked Simon Peter Carman with a knife
• ▪Simon Peter Carman has allegedly told police that Simon Peter Carman acted in self-defence after being attacked by Tunchanok Donhomla

Police investigation evidence

• ▪CCTV allegedly shows Simon Peter Carman wheeling a black suitcase from Simon Peter Carman's hotel before strapping it to a motorbike and driving away
• ▪Simon Peter Carman was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport just minutes before Simon Peter Carman was due to board a flight to Perth
• ▪Simon Peter Carman told police on camera that the marks on Simon Peter Carman's neck and arms were due to spiders at the condominium
• ▪Simon Peter Carman had visible scratches and bruises on Simon Peter Carman's neck and arms

Family death penalty demand

• ▪Tunchanok Donhomla had only arrived in Pattaya days before Tunchanok Donhomla's death
• ▪Tunchanok Donhomla's visit to Pattaya was Tunchanok Donhomla's first visit to the town
• ▪Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare made the journey to Pattaya to collect Tunchanok Donhomla's remains from their home in the northeast Thailand province of Kalasin
• ▪Tunchanok Donhomla's parents, Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, demanded that Simon Peter Carman be executed

Perspective of Simon Peter Carman (defense position)

• ▪Simon Peter Carman claims he acted in self-defense when Tunchanok Donhomla allegedly attacked him with a knife during their encounter