A 45-year-old Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, has been charged with murder in Thailand for allegedly dismembering a minor, Tunchanok Donhomla, before stuffing her remains into a suitcase.
Reports said the incident occurred in the Thai city of Pattaya on Thursday after Ms Donhomla, whom Mr Carman allegedly hired for sex, was seen on CCTV entering the suspect’s hotel room in the early hours of the same day but was never seen leaving.
According to the Pattaya Police, between 9:25 p.m. and 9:48 p.m., security cameras reportedly captured Mr Carman dragging a big suitcase out of the building before strapping it to a motorbike and driving away.
The Guardian UK stated that the suspect was later arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday evening in connection to Ms Donhomla’s disappearance while trying to flee Thailand for Australia.
After hours of questioning in the early hours of Saturday, police subsequently discovered a naked body in a suitcase dumped near railway tracks. The remains were eventually identified as that of Ms Donhomla.
Police said they filed three charges against Mr Carman, which include murder, concealing a corpse in an attempt to hide the cause of death, and abduction of a minor over 15 but not yet 18 years of age for indecent purposes.
The Australian denied all the charges, claiming he acted in self defence. He, however, admitted that the incident should not have happened, while warning other girls to be more cautious.
“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control. I hope you – I know you’ll be very sad, upset. Same, same me. It shouldn’t happen. I hope you’re OK – I know you’re not – but I hope and tell other girls just to be … careful …” Mr Carman said in a video addressed to the victim’s parents.
If convicted of murder, Mr Carman faces either the death penalty or a prison sentence of between 15 and 20 years under Thai law.
“I am deeply saddened. My daughter had no mother, so whenever she wanted anything, she would find a way herself, and she always helped me too,” The victim’s father, Thongchai Donhomla, said in response to the incident.
