‘Loner sex tourist’ facing death penalty over murder of girl, 17, found in suitcase claims he ‘acted in self defence’

A TOURIST facing the death penalty for the murder of a Thai teenager claims he acted in self defence. Simon Peter Carman, 45, has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 17-year-old girl whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase near his accommodation in Thailand. Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, was found dumped in a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya on June 27 Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress Simon Peter Carman, 45, has pleaded not guilty to murdering a Thai teen Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress Carman appeared before Pattya Provincial Court on Friday in his first appearance since the death of Tunchanok Donhomla in June. He faces four serious charges, including murder, concealing a corpse and abducting a minor for indecent purposes. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Carman denied every charge and told the court he had acted in self-defence. Cops believe the Australian ex-pat murdered Tunchanok after the pair met at a red light district bar until on June 25. The teen suffered a brain injury and died of suffocation, says Thai cops Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress CCTV footage showed Carman and Thanchanok together in a lobby Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress Her naked body was found two days later dumped in a black suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya – Thailand’s notorious sex-tourism hub. Carman was arrested at Bangkok’s international airport on June 27, the same day Thanchanok’s body was discovered. His arrest came after CCTV footage showed Carman and Thanchanok together in the lobby of Carman’s hotel around 3.30am on the night of her alleged murder. He was seen holding her hand as they walk towards his hotel room. Most read in The Sun Carman claimed the scratches were from a spider but cops say they indicate a violent struggle Credit: Thai Police Police allege CCTV captured Carman wheeling the suitcase Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress Thai police say further CCTV showed Carman taking a black suitcase from his room before getting on a motorcycle with it on the back just 18 hours later. Continually maintaining his innocence, Carman asserts that he did not kill the teenager and that he acted in self-defence after she threatened him with a knife inside his room. He insists the pair never had sex. Carman told the court he tried to stop Thanchanok from stabbing him during a struggle. Tunchanok’s naked body was found in a 26-inch black suitcase alongside a railway line Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress Carman was arrested on June 27 Credit: AsiaPacificPress via ViralPress Carman also said he did not know why Thanchanok had followed him home and said he had given her 500 baht, about £11, before she allegedly threatened him with a knife. Upon Carman’s arrest detectives spotted parallel red cuts on his neck and arm, immediately prompting officers to suspect they occurred during a struggle. He claimed the scratches were caused by a spider. Thai cops said autopsy results found that the teen suffered a brain injury and died of suffocation, 7News previously reported. During his court appearance Carman applied for bail, arguing he posed no flight risk with prosecutors opposing the application. He is next due in court on October 12. If convicted of murder, he could face the death penalty. Back in July, Thai investigators released imagery showing the squalid hotel room where they believe the murder may have taken place. Images show his bed surrounded by unfolded clothes left on a drying rack and a chair, and trash. Piles of paper and bottles of water on a desk can be seen, and kitchen items and containers are dumped on a bench near the doorway. Several empty bottles of what appear to be spirits are seen on top of the fridge. Comment now