The devastated parents of a Thai teenager who was allegedly killed and placed inside a suitcase by an Australian truck driver have said they will “never forgive” the person responsible for her death.
Simon Carman, 46, who is from south of Perth, was arrested after local police discovered the body of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, known as Cake, inside a suitcase beside railway tracks in Pattaya, Thailand, late on Friday night.
Investigators allege the British-born tradesman folded the teenager’s naked body into a 29-inch black suitcase and dumped it in long grass before attempting to leave Thailand and return to Perth.
Carman has since been charged with her murder.
In police video footage, Carman — who operates a mobile refuelling business between Perth and regional Victoria and has reportedly had ties to Thailand for more than a decade — addressed the girl’s family and said he was “sorry.”
“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter,” Carman said.
“It was out of my control,” he added.
He allegedly told investigators that Ms Donhomla had attacked him with a knife and claimed he had acted in self-defence.
The parents of a Thai girl who was allegedly murdered on Friday have broken down in tears
CCTV allegedly showed the Thai teenager and the Australian tourist holding hands as they walked into an elevator
Simon Peter Carman, 45, is alleged to have picked up Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, from a bar in Pattaya before travelling back to his hotel on Thursday
But as the parents of the girl travelled to Pattaya to collect their daughter’s body, they rejected the apology.
Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, who made the journey from their home in the northeast Thailand province of Kalasin, told local media that Ms Donhomla had only arrived in Pattaya days before her death.
It was her first visit to the town infamous for its wild nightlife, but her parents had let her go with friends because she had a helpful attitude and never had any issues with drugs.
Through tears, they said they wanted the alleged perpetrator prosecuted and, if guilty, to receive the maximum punishment according to the law.
They said when friends reported her missing they set off for Pattaya and learnt her body had been found when they were still en route.
Carman had met Ms Donhomla on the beachfront which late at night transforms into a well-known beat for prostitutes who trawl for customers under the palm trees, and so is known to many locals as the ‘Coconut Bar’.
The pair could be seen on CCTV as they walked from the beach and entered the foyer of his hotel at around 3.30am on Thursday.
Carman allegedly told authorities they had agreed he would pay the teen 1,000 baht (AU$43.45), but the pair had an argument when he only offered 500 baht (AU$21.72).
Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line, just ten minutes from Carman’s hotel
Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, made the journey from their home in the northern Thailand province Kalasin, near the Laotian border, to retrieve their daughter
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is ‘providing consular assistance to the Australian detained in Thailand’ (pictured, Carman allegedly seen on CCTV riding a scooter)
Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line
After Ms Donhomla’s friends reported her missing, police searched his accommodation and seized a motorcycle, took DNA and fingerprint samples, but found no sign of Carman.
Then on Friday, Thai authorities issued an urgent alert through the Immigration Bureau system while Pattaya investigators sought an arrest warrant.
Police arrested him at Suvarnabhumi Airport, just minutes before his Jetstar Flight JQ76 to Perth was due to depart.
Officers located the suitcase in long grass with Ms Donhomla inside, with blood and visible wounds to her face and body.
Inside the suitcase with her were the white Onitsuka trainers she was wearing on the night, jeans, underwear, a mobile phone case, a wallet, her gold bracelet and necklace.
The tattoos on her back, arms, chest and left leg matched those in her social media images.
Pattaya detectives have charged Carman with murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes.
Asked by an officer if he killed the girl, Carman said, ‘No’.
Carman wheeling a black suitcase can allegedly be seen leaving the condo Thursday evening
The 17-year-old known as ‘Nong Cake’ was allegedly stuffed into the suitcase naked and the bag then wheeled from the condo, put on the back of a motorbike and pitched from the vehicle onto a railway line siding
He was asked about the visible scratches and bruises on his neck and arms.
In the police footage, Carman said the marks were due to ‘the spiders’ which he said were ‘always’ appearing at the condominium where he stayed.
Ms Donhomla may have been operating with a fake ID.
Thai child protection laws prohibit the sexual exploitation of people under 18.
Carman remains in the custody of Pattaya City Police station and is undergoing further questioning as investigators continue to gather evidence.
A murder conviction in Thailand can result in a life sentence or the death penalty.
