Australian accused of Thai teen's murder indicates plea

Family members of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, whose body was found in a suitcase, have met the Australian man accused of her murder for the first time. Simon Peter Carman, who turns 46 later this month, indicated he would plead guilty to one of three charges against him in a Pattaya Provincial Court hearing. Carman was arrested in June after Tunchanok was reported missing in Pattaya, a city known for tourism and its sex trade.

The suitcase containing her body was found nearby by railway tracks. Initially, Carman denied all charges, claiming self-defense and unawareness of the girl's real age. However, after being informed that evidence against him for hiding the corpse was strong, he changed his plea to guilty. Tunchanok's family expressed their desire for the death penalty and filed a civil case against Carman for damages.

Carman claimed the girl was threatening him with a knife, but family members dispute this and say her face was battered.