PATTAYA — Australian man Simon Peter Carman made his first appearance before a judge in Thailand today, pleading not guilty to the murder of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla.
The 45-year-old appeared in the Pattaya Provincial Court shackled in heavy leg chains and handcuffs. Facing a suite of grave charges—including intentional murder, abduction of a minor, and the concealment and destruction of a corpse—Mr. Carman maintained his innocence, telling the court he acted in self-defence.
The case centers on the tragic death of the teenager from Thailand’s Kalasin province, whose body was discovered in a suitcase along railway tracks near Mr. Carman’s residence in June.
Police allege that Mr. Carman encountered the 17-year-old on Pattaya’s bustling Beach Road in the early hours of June 25. CCTV footage presented by authorities appears to show the pair walking hand-in-hand into the elevator of his condominium building around 3:30 a.m. Subsequent footage allegedly captured Mr. Carman later that day, transporting a large suitcase on the back of a motorcycle.
During the hearing, Mr. Carman’s legal representative, Sorasit Pongin, confirmed his client’s position. “He denies all charges,” Mr. Pongin told the media. Defense counsel indicated that the legal proceedings are expected to be lengthy, with the trial potentially spanning the next six to eight months.
As part of his defense, Mr. Carman requested to be released on bail, insisting he did not pose a flight risk. However, prosecutors formally objected to the application, leaving him to remain in custody. Mr. Carman was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 27 as he allegedly attempted to board a flight to Perth. He has been held at the Pattaya Remand Centre since his capture.
During a brief interval in the hearing, judges permitted Mr. Carman to meet with Australian consular representatives. During this interaction, he was observed visibly distressed, with witnesses noting tears streaming down his face.
As he was escorted from the courthouse, Mr. Carman addressed reporters briefly, claiming he had lost approximately 30 kilograms since being taken into detention.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 12. That session will focus on the formal examination of the evidence submitted by prosecutors to support their allegations. For now, the trial remains in its early stages as the Thai justice system prepares to weigh the claims of self-defence against the graphic evidence captured on surveillance footage.
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