Australian man charged with murder over death of a teenage girl in Thailand’s Pattaya
An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, has been charged with murder and concealment of a body in connection with the death of a teenage girl in the popular tourist city of Pattaya, Thailand. The 17-year-old girl was reported missing on Friday and was last seen on security footage entering a condominium with Carman.
Carman was later seen leaving the building alone with a large suitcase, which he loaded onto a motorbike and took to a deserted area along the railway. He was arrested at a Bangkok airport before boarding a flight to Perth, Australia, and charged with raping a minor. The girl’s body was found in the suitcase after his arrest, leading to additional charges.
The charge of premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty. Carman, who denies all charges, is currently in custody and has legal representation. It is yet to be determined when he will appear in court, according to Pattaya Police investigator Kanoknan Sooksri.
Security footage released by Thai media allegedly shows Carman and the girl entering an elevator together before he leaves alone with the suitcase. Another video shows Carman being questioned by the police, where he claims he was defending himself as the girl threatened him with a knife.
