‘Feel bad’: Australian man charged in Thailand accused of gruesome suitcase murder speaks

An Australian man charged with the murder of a teenage girl in Thailand says he feels “bad for what happened” but claimed the situation was “out of my control” in a video recorded following his arrest.

According to local reports, Simon Peter Carman, 46, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday while attempting to leave the Asian nation.

Carman has now been charged with murder and burying, concealing, moving or destroying a body to conceal the death or cause of death, and offences relating to taking a minor for indecent purposes.

Thai media reports Pattaya City Police Superintendent, Colonel Anek Sarathongyu, said Carman had initially been charged with taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act.

The body of a teenage girl was found stuffed in a suitcase alongside a railway track in Pattaya after Carman’s arrest.

A friend reported the teen missing after walking off with a man, with police tracking her using CCTV footage and seeing her enter the Australian’s building.

“We believe he killed her, and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder,” the Colonel said before more charges were laid.

“He has fingernail scratches across his body that are consistent with a struggle, but he denies killing her.”

The Bangkok Post reports police found signs of a struggle at Carman’s condominium, as well as his passport, and authorities then arrested him at the airport attempting to buy a ticket to Australia.

The Post reported Carman told police he had not known the 17-year-old before they met and he agreed to pay 1000 baht ($53) “for her time”.

There was an argument over the price at Carman’s room, The Post reported, “after which the suspect alleged that the girl picked up a knife to threaten him and demand more money”, the major Thai outlet reports.

“He claimed he then acted in self‑defence, grabbing her neck and causing her death. He insisted he had no intention to kill.”

Carman claimed the situation was “out of my control” in a video taken after his arrest.

“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter; it was out of my control,” he said in the video.

“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.

Carman also tried to explain scratches on his body during the footage, wearing a West Coast Eagles AFL jersey as he sat in the Thai police station.

“I think it’s a spider; they always get in here,” he said.

“Please tell other girls … just to be careful.”

He was arrested before the body of the 17-year-old girl was discovered abandoned in a suitcase alongside a railway track in Pattaya.

Footage from news outlet ASEAN Now shows police retrieving the suitcase from an area of tall grass, and bringing the bag to the roadside.

Forensic police are seen taking swabs of the suitcase handle.

The footage is then blurred, but police can be seen opening the suitcase; its contents are not clear in the footage.

The teen was last seen entering a residential building in The Gulf coast city about 3.30am on Thursday, local time.

CCTV published by Thai media outlet Buzzin Pattaya shows the teenager holding hands with a man believed to be the arrested Australian.

It is alleged that the man had picked up the girl from Pattaya’s Beach Road in the early hours, with friends reporting her missing on Friday.

It is then reported Carman was arrested while attempting to board a plan in the Bangkok airport late on Friday night.

At about 11pm local time on Friday, the teenager’s naked body was found stuffed into a suitcase alongside a railway line – about 10 minutes from the hotel where she was last seen.

Police in Thailand have told Viral Press that the suspect has initially been charged with “taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act”.

A Facebook post shared by Pattaya Police identified the girl as Tunchanok Donhomla, who was reported missing by a friend.

The lengthy post reads: “Pattaya City Police wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family of the (alleged) victim.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Sunday called the allegation “abhorrent” and said her thoughts are with the teenager’s family and loved ones.

“What is alleged here is just terrible, terrible actions, and my thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the victim,” Allan said.

“This is a matter being handled, as I’m advised, by Thai police... I don’t want to say anything that cuts across that investigation, other than to reiterate that this is an allegation of an abhorrent crime, and my thoughts are with the young girl’s family and friends.”

Allan said she did not have any information on whether Carman is from Victoria.

A spokesperson for Australian authorities confirmed government departments were aware of the case.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Thailand,” the statement read.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”

NewsWire has contacted Australian Federal Police who did not provide comment.

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