Simon Peter Carman, a 45-year-old Australian truck driver from Perth, faces multiple charges including intentional murder after being accused of killing Thai teenager Tunchanok Donhomla. Her body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks outside Pattaya on June 27, two days after she was last seen with Carman. He claims he acted in self-defense during an argument over money that escalated into a physical struggle where the teen allegedly attacked him with a knife before dying. Carman is due to appear in court for his first hearing and could face the death penalty if convicted.
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Story summary
Simon Carman, a 45-year-old truck driver from Perth's southern suburbs, faces multiple serious charges in Thailand after being accused of murdering Tunchanok Donhomla, also known as "Cake," a 17-year-old Thai teenager. Her naked body was discovered on June 27 inside a black suitcase near railway tracks outside Pattaya. She had last been seen alive with Carman two days prior in the foyer of his condo complex.
Carman attempted to flee Thailand by boarding a Jetstar flight from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, but was arrested just minutes before takeoff. He claimed self-defense, alleging that Donhomla attacked him with a knife during an argument over money. However, Thai authorities approved four charges against Carman: intentional murder, concealing a body, and two sexual offenses involving a minor.
Carman will appear in court for the first time on Friday following approval by the Pattaya Provincial Prosecutor. If convicted, he could face the death penalty under Thai law.
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Details of an Australian truck driver's court appearance have emerged after he was accused of killing a Thai teenager and putting her body in a suitcase.
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he → see → suitcase
Simon Peter Carman, 45, from Perth's southern suburbs, could face the death penalty over the alleged murder of Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, also known as Cake.
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Carman → face → Cake
Her naked body was found dumped inside a black suitcase near railway tracks on the outskirts of Pattaya on June 27, two days after she was last seen alive on CCTV with Carman in the foyer of his condo complex.
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she → find → complex
Carman was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport just minutes before he tried to board a Jetstar flight to Perth.
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he → arrest → Perth
He insisted that he acted in self-defence and alleged that the teen attacked him with a knife during an argument over money.
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teen → insist → money
Thai authorities said this week that Carman was due to make his first court appearance on Friday after the Pattaya Provincial Prosecutor approved four charges.
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Prosecutor → say → charges
A translated statement seen by the Herald Sun said the alleged offences included intentional murder, concealing a body, and two charges of a sexual nature involving a minor.
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offences → translate → minor
Carman has been appointed a Thai lawyer.
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Carman → appoint → ?
It remains unclear how his legal representation is being funded and whether he is receiving financial support from Australia.
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he → remain → Australia
The body of Thai teen Tunchanok Donhomla was found dumped inside a black suitcase near railway tracks on the outskirts of Pattaya, Thailand, on June 27
Simon Carman, from Perth's southern suburbs, has been charged over the alleged murder
He insisted that he acted in self-defence and alleged that the teen attacked him with a knife during an argument over money
In August, Carman gave his first interview since his arrest, speaking to ABC's Foreign Correspondent from Pattaya Remand Prison.
'
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Carman → find → Prison
I feel deeply sad.
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I → feel → ?
I obviously wish that it did not happen, but it was unavoidable,' he said.
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he → wish → ?
'All I was trying to do [was] restrain her from stabbing me.
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I → try → me
Even when I had her pinned down, she still had a lot of force, trying to stab me.'
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she → have → me
Carman claimed he repeatedly asked the teen to 'put down the knife' during a physical struggle before she eventually 'went limp'.
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she → claim → struggle
He said he felt a great deal of remorse for Tunchanok's family.
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he → say → family
He also claimed he had no idea at the time that Tunchanok was a minor, alleging she followed him back to his accommodation.
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she → claim → accommodation
'I honestly do not know why she followed me home,' he added.
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he → know → me
Carman has vowed to fight the charges, saying: 'I am hoping and praying that I can get released, if not on bail, because I have done nothing wrong.
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I → vow → nothing
I have not done anything wrong.
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I → do → anything
I do not understand what's going on.'
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what → understand → ?
Nine days before her death, Tunchanok travelled from her home in Thailand's north, about 600km to the bustling city of Pattaya, to 'see the beach' and visit friends
Carman was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport just minutes before he tried to board a Jetstar flight to Perth
Carman revealed at the time that the only visitors he had received while behind bars were representatives from the Australian embassy.
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he → travel → embassy
As police wrapped up their investigation, an autopsy revealed Tunchanok 'had a brain injury and she suffocated'.
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she → wrap → injury
'She had no other injuries,' Colonel Anek Srathongyoo from Pattaya City Police said.
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Srathongyoo → have → Police
'We also collected Simon [Carman's] DNA and matched it to DNA found on Cake's.'
Nine days before her death, Tunchanok travelled from her home in Thailand's north, about 600km to the bustling city of Pattaya.
She wanted a holiday to 'see the beach' and visit friends, promising her family she would return soon.
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she → collect → family
Tunchanok had given friends Carman's address after the pair met up on Jomtien Beach in the early hours of June 25.
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pair → give → June
A concerned friend reported the teen missing to police the following day and later confronted Carman at his condo after she disappeared.
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she → report → condo
Police allege Carman had by then suffocated Tunchanok and put her body in a suitcase before abandoning it a short scooter ride away.
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Carman → allege → suitcase
A murder conviction in Thailand can result in the death penalty or a jail sentence of 15 to 20 years.
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conviction → result → years
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