Australian suspect in Pattaya murder pleads not guilty after indictment

An Australian man accused of murdering a Thai teenager pleaded not guilty to all charges in a court appearance in Pattaya on Friday, according to a court official. Simon Peter Carman, 45, was arrested at a Bangkok airport on June 26 as he attempted to board a flight back to Australia, following the discovery of the 17-year-old victim's body less than 24 hours later.

The teenager's friend had reported her missing to authorities. Police found her body inside a suitcase near a railway track in Pattaya, a city located south of Bangkok, on June 27. The victim was determined to have died from suffocation. Carman entered a not guilty plea in response to charges including murder, concealing a body, and taking a minor for indecent purposes during his appearance at Pattaya Provincial Court.

The next scheduled court date is set for October 12. Earlier reports indicated that CCTV footage captured Carman entering a condominium in Pattaya with the teenager in the early hours of June 25, and leaving that evening with a large black suitcase. This case has drawn attention to Pattaya, a popular destination for foreign tourists known for its beaches, vibrant nightlife, and also its reputation for sex tourism.