Family Demands Death Penalty for Teen's Alleged Killer in Thailand

WHO:

NY Post - Tunchanok Donhomla, a 17-year-old Thai girl, is the victim.

ABC News - Simon Peter Carman, an Australian man, is the accused killer.

ABC News - Miruntree Thanachai, the victim’s aunt, and Tongchai Donhomla, the victim’s father, are family members seeking justice.

WHAT:

NY Post - The family attended a court hearing to confront the accused for the first time.

ABC News - Carman has been charged with murder, two counts of indecent behavior involving a minor, and concealing a corpse.

ABC News - The family is seeking the death penalty for Carman.

ABC News - The family filed a civil case against Carman for damages of 1.65 million baht ($49,000).

ABC News - Carman indicated he would change his plea to guilty regarding the charge of concealing a corpse.

WHERE:

NY Post - The body was discovered in a suitcase near Pattaya, a popular seaside resort city in Thailand.

ABC News - The court hearing took place at Pattaya Provincial Court.

ABC News - The girl was last seen on security footage entering a condominium in Pattaya.

WHEN:

ABC News - Carman was arrested in June after Tunchanok was reported missing.

ABC News - Carman turns 46 later this month.

WHY:

ABC News - The family wants the death penalty to prevent similar incidents from happening to others.

HOW:

ABC News - Police found the suitcase containing the girl's body by railway tracks in a deserted area.

ABC News - Security footage showed Carman leaving the condominium alone with a large suitcase and loading it onto a motorbike.

ABC News - Carman claimed he acted in self-defense, stating the girl threatened him with a knife.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 12:01 UTC)

A 17-year-old Thai girl named Tunchanok Donhomla was found dead in a suitcase near Pattaya, leading to the arrest of an Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, who has been charged with murder and other offenses. During a court hearing at Pattaya Provincial Court, Tunchanok's family confronted Carman for the first time, seeking the death penalty and filing a civil case against him for damages of 1.65 million baht, which is about $49,000. Carman, who is set to turn 46 later this month, indicated he would change his plea to guilty regarding the charge of concealing a corpse, claiming he acted in self-defense when Tunchanok allegedly threatened him with a knife.