Australian man, 45, allegedly kills teen girl, 17, & stuffs body in suitcase

The body of a 17-year-old girl in Pattaya, Thailand, was found in a suitcase along a railway line.

Thai police have since arrested a 45-year-old Australian man, Simon Carman, on Jun. 26 at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, according to Australian Broadcasting Channel News (ABC News).

Carman allegedly picked up the 17-year-old, named Tunchanok Donhomla, from the Beach Road vice strip in Pattaya on Jun. 25.

CCTV footage later showed the pair holding hands and going to Carman's room before Carman appeared the next evening with a black suitcase in tow.

Met in Pattaya

When Tunchanok did not make any contact for more than 24 hours, her friends reported her missing, Pattaya News reported.

Police traced her last steps to the building she entered with Carman, where the pair was seen entering at around 3:34am on Jun. 25.

CCTV also showed Carman leaving the building at 9:34pm with a black suitcase and loading it onto a black motorcycle.

They then traced the motorcycle's route via CCTV and located the suitcase about 4.2km away.

The 17-year-old girl was found dead with injuries consistent of an assault inside.

Arrested at airport

A travel ban notice was issued for Carman, who was eventually arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

He reportedly denied the accusation when he was first arrested, only coming clean when presented with CCTV footage.

Carman also had visible scratch marks on his neck and arms.

Claimed self-defence

Carman reportedly told police that he had acted in self-defence.

He claimed to have invited the girl back to his long-term rented condominium after meeting her at Pattaya Beach around 3am on Jun. 25.

Once inside, she allegedly received a phone call and later told him she wanted to leave as she was on her period.

She allegedly asked Carman for 500 baht (S$19.40) in compensation but later demanded more money, leading to a heated argument.

Carman claimed that the girl then grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at his neck.

He claimed this led him to use his left hand to grab her hand while using his right hand to choke her neck until she became still.

Carman insisted he had no intention to kill her and acted only in self-defence.

Police have charged Carman with intentional murder, concealing or disposing of a body, and abducting/taking a minor (aged over 15 but under 18) for indecent purposes.

He has been remanded in custody by Pattaya Provincial Court for further investigation.