NEW DETAILS ROCK THAI TEEN MUR-DER CASE: POLICE SAY DE-ADLY DISPUTE MAY HAVE STARTED OVER $21.73 AS AUSTRALIAN SUSPECT BREAKS SILENCE AFTER MU-RDER CHARGE
An Australian charged with murder after a Thai teenager was found naked and stuffed inside a suitcase has shared a message to her family, saying he felt ‘very bad’.
Simon Peter Carman, 45, is alleged to have picked up Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, from the Beach Road vice strip in Pattaya before travelling back to his hotel on Thursday.
CCTV allegedly showed the pair holding hands as they walked into an elevator, and hours later captured Carman leaving the hotel with a black suitcase.
Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line, just ten minutes from Carman’s hotel, while the Australian man was arrested trying to catch a Jetstar flight to Perth from Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Friday.
Carman allegedly told authorities they had agreed on 1,000 baht (AU$43.45), but the pair had an argument when he offered 500 baht (AU$21.72).
In a video recorded by police, Carman told investigators the teenager had demanded more money and tried to rob him, before he acted in self-defence.
‘I had my wallet open to get my money out, next thing I know there’s a knife in my face,’ he claimed.
The 45-year-old was later seen in the video looking to the camera and addressing the family of Ms Donhomla, saying he felt ‘very bad’.
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Simon Peter Carman, 45, is alleged to have picked up Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, from the Beach Road vice strip in Pattaya before travelling back to his hotel on Thursday
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CCTV allegedly showed the pair holding hands as they walked into an elevator
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Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line, just ten minutes from Carman’s hotel
‘I feel bad for what happened to your daughter; it was out of my control,’ Carman said.
‘Um, I know you will be very sad, upset, same me. It shouldn’t happen and I hope you okay, I know you’re not, but I hope.
‘Please tell other girls… just to be careful.’
Carman denied killing Ms Donhomla after being asked by a reporter at the station.
He was asked about scratches on his neck.
‘I have the same on the other side,’ he said.
‘I think it’s a spider, they always get in here.’
Pattaya City Police superintendent Colonel Anek Sarathongyu said Carman was first charged with taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act.
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In a video recorded by police, Carman said he felt ‘very bad’
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is ‘providing consular assistance to the Australian detained in Thailand’ (pictured, Carman allegedly seen on CCTV riding a scooter)
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A man believed to be Carman is seen wheeling a suitcase
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Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line
Local Thai media have since reported Carman has been charged with murder.
A murder conviction carries life imprisonment or the death penalty in Thailand.
Colonel Sarathongyu alleged CCTV from the hotel showed that nobody else entered Carman’s room.
He said Ms Donhomla was not seen leaving the room.
Ms Donhomla’s friends reported her missing at 5pm on Friday – two hours before Carman was arrested – and her body was found at 11pm.
‘The physical characteristics and tattoos on the body matched those of the girl on CCTV with the suspect,’ Colonel Sarathongyu said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is ‘providing consular assistance to the Australian detained in Thailand’.
‘Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,’ a spokesman said.
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15935415/Australian-Simon-Carman-charged-murder.html
