Harrowing scenes in court as Aussie accused of killing Thai teen admits to hiding her body

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA 12:54 12 Oct 2026, updated 12:54 12 Oct 2026

An Australian man accused of murdering a Thai teenager and hiding her body in a suitcase has indicated that he will plead guilty to concealing her body.

Simon Peter Carman, 45, admitted to hiding the body of Tunchanok ‘Cake’ Donhomla when he faced a procedural hearing in Pattaya Provincial Court on Monday.

However, Carman remains adamant he did not murder the 17-year-old, claiming that he acted in self-defence and that he did not know the girl’s real age.

Carman, a truck driver from Perth, pleaded guilty to hiding Tunchanok’s naked body inside a black suitcase and leaving it by train tracks on the outskirts of coastal town of Pattaya on June 27.

The teen was captured on CCTV holding hands with Carman and entering the foyer of his condo two days prior.

An autopsy recently revealed that Tunchanok suffered a brain injury and signs consistent with suffocation.

Carman was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport just moments before he was due to board a Jetstar flight home to Perth on the day the teen’s body was found.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to intentional murder, concealing a corpse, moving or destroying a corpse, and abducting a minor for indecent purposes.

However, when advised by the judge on Monday that the evidence against him on hiding the victim’s corpse was strong, but he could expect leniency if he confessed to that charge, Carman indicated that he would change his plea to guilty.

Appearing barefoot with his ankles and wrists handcuffed, Carman told the court that he was forced to defend himself after Tunchanok held a knife to his neck.

He claimed that she suddenly died after he squeezed the teenager’s jaw but not her neck.

Carman also used his court appearance to request he be released on bail, The West Australian reported.

He was told that his bid had already been rejected.

‘I haven’t done anything to deserve this,’ Carman replied.

‘I am innocent and they cannot lock up an innocent man.’

The presiding judge urged Carman to plead guilty to murder so he could argue self defence.

‘Why should I plead guilty? I would be lying to myself and everyone,’ Carman replied.

The Australian was also asked in court about whether he would pay $70,000 in compensation to Tunchanok’s family, as is common in Thai criminal cases.

Carman said that he would not pay the family as he had done nothing wrong but would consider helping them if he was released on bail.

Tunchanok’s grieving family confronted Carman in the courtroom before he could be led away, the ABC reported.

‘Why did you kill her?’ her cousin Khanitta Nongkhampoon asked.

‘She’s responsible for her own death. She had a knife to my throat.

‘I don’t feel guilty because I haven’t done anything wrong.’

Tunchanok’s family on Friday filed a separate civil lawsuit against him and are seeking more than $51,000 in compensation.

The family were appointed a government lawyer to help them as the civil and criminal cases run concurrently, with Carman only required to pay if found guilty.

Carman’s trial is expected to run for several months.

If found guilty of murder, he faces life imprisonment or the death penalty in Thailand

– READ MORE: The heartbreaking promise Tunchanok Donhomla made to her family

– READ MORE: Inside the ‘hellhole’ Thai jail cell where accused Aussie killer Simon Carman is being held

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