Arabic version: رجل أسترالي متهم بقتل مراهقة تايلاندية يتحدث إلى عائلة الضحية

An Australian man charged with the murder of a 17-year-old girl in Thailand has expressed regret to her family, stating her death was “out of my control.” Simon Peter Carman, 45, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok following the report of Tunchanok Donhomla’s disappearance. Police later discovered her body in a suitcase near railway tracks.

According to ABC News, authorities traced the last moments of Ms. Tunchanok to a hotel room in Pattaya, where she was last seen with Mr. Carman. He has been charged with four offences: murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes. While he denies the charges, he claims she “disappeared from the room while I was asleep.”

In a video recorded while in custody, Mr. Carman conveyed his condolences to Ms. Tunchanok’s family, expressing that he felt “bad for what happened to your daughter.” He suggested that the situation was beyond his control and advised caution to other girls.

Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu stated that Mr. Carman is being held on suspicion of murder and noted that he has fingernail scratches consistent with a struggle. Despite these findings, Mr. Carman maintains his innocence and suggested the scratches were caused by a spider.

The investigation is ongoing, and a court date will not be announced until police have completed their investigation. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Mr. Carman, who is currently detained in Pattaya Prison.