Australian suspect claims innocence from Thai prison

Foreign Correspondent

Crime

In short:

The Perth man accused of killing a 17‑year‑old girl in Thailand after meeting her in Pattaya says he is innocent and acted in self‑defence.

Simon Peter Carman, 45, gave his first ABC interview since his June arrest.

What's next?

Pattaya police say their investigation is finished and they will hand the case to prosecutors today.

Simon Peter Carman, the Australian charged with killing Thai teen Tunchanok Donhomla, says he acted in self‑defence to stop her stabbing him.

The 45‑year‑old spoke only to ABC’s Foreign Correspondent in a private room at Pattaya Remand Prison, where he has been held for almost two months.

"I hope and pray I will be released," he said.

"I did nothing wrong. I shouldn't be here … I do not understand what is happening."

Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, was found dead in a suitcase after meeting Simon Carman. (Supplied: Pattaya police)

Thai police say Mr Carman picked up the 17‑year‑old on Beach Road in early June 25, then killed her and dumped the body.

In a 30‑minute interview watched by a prison guard, Mr Carman said he is innocent and did not plan to kill the teen.

"I feel very sad. I wish it never happened, but it could not be avoided," he said.

"All I tried to do was stop her from stabbing me."

The Pattaya Remand Prison holds 3,200 inmates, including 200 foreigners. (ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

The ABC is the first foreign news outlet in at least 15 years allowed to interview a foreign inmate in a Thai prison. Permission required the prison to review the footage for security and to avoid discussing prison conditions. The interview was done with Mr Carman’s consent.

He faces four charges, including murder, hiding a corpse, and kidnapping a minor for indecent purposes.

If convicted of murder, he could receive the death penalty or life imprisonment.

"I pleaded not guilty and remain not guilty of all four charges," Mr Carman said.

Simon Carman told the ABC he was not guilty. (ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

Mr Carman said he has no lawyer yet and has not had any visitors except Australian embassy staff.

Thai police finished their investigation last week and will hand the case to prosecutors today.

Tunchanok Donhomla’s father, Thongchai Donhomla, said he wants Mr Carman to get a life sentence or death penalty to "serve as a lesson for others".

"I want Simon to receive the harshest punishment because I have lost my child," he told the ABC last week.

Carman says pair fought over money

Ms Tunchanok, known as "Cake" by friends and family, was last seen alive on June 25.

CCTV showed her walking hand‑in‑hand with Mr Carman into his condo elevators.

Later CCTV showed Mr Carman pulling a large suitcase from the building and loading it onto a motorcycle at night.

Two days later police found Ms Tunchanok’s body in the suitcase, dumped near railway tracks close to Mr Carman’s home.

Mr Carman was arrested at Bangkok’s international airport on June 27 while trying to fly to Perth and has been in Thai police custody since.

Thai police arrested Simon Carman at Bangkok’s international airport on June 27. (Pattaya Provincial Police / Reuters)

In the Foreign Correspondent interview, Mr Carman kept saying he acted in self‑defence.

Mr Carman said he first met Ms Tunchanok on the street with two friends. He said the 17‑year‑old then followed him back to his home.

"I really do not know why she followed me home," he added.

When ABC showed him CCTV of them entering the building hand‑in‑hand, Mr Carman said: "I cannot remember that, but if it was hand‑in‑hand, I believe you."

Simon Carman pictured after his arrest in Thailand. (AP/ViralPress)

He said he did not know Ms Tunchanok was a minor then and thought she was about 25‑35 years old.

Mr Carman said when they got to his room he "gave her 500 baht ($21)… for nothing. She wanted more money and then pulled a knife".

He said he kept asking Ms Tunchanok to "put down the knife" during a struggle, and eventually "she went limp".

When asked if he called anyone, including an ambulance, Mr Carman said he did not because he "didn't trust the police".

CCTV captured what police say is Simon Carman riding a motorcycle with a suitcase strapped to the back. (Supplied)

Family 'deeply heartbroken' by case

Pattaya Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo said his team will submit the case file to the Pattaya prosecutor’s office today.

Prosecutors will have until September 18 to charge Mr Carman.

The police autopsy report, shown exclusively to the ABC last week, said Ms Tunchanok died from suffocation.

Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, was from Kalasin province in Thailand. (Supplied: Pattaya Police)

"The autopsy said Cake had a brain injury and suffocated. She had no other injuries," Colonel Anek told the ABC last week.

"We also collected Simon Carman’s DNA and matched it to DNA on Cake’s body."

Ms Tunchanok’s aunt Mirantee Thanachai, who helped identify the body, said she was angry at Mr Carman’s statements.

"I am angry he claimed Cake tried to hurt him and that he was only defending himself," she told the ABC.

"If things were not working, he should have just let her go."

Ms Tunchanok’s father told the ABC he was "deeply heartbroken" by the case.

"I always told my child to be good, never cheat or hurt anyone. But if a bad situation happens, I told her never to back down and to fight to the end," Mr Thongchai said.

"I do not ask for much. I just hope my child gets the justice she deserves."

Police timeline of case:

Source: Pattaya City Police Station. Exact timings are unclear, as this timeline has some differences from earlier reports.

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