An Australian man accused of killing a 17-year-old Thai girl and leaving her body inside a suitcase was denied bail on Friday after pleading not guilty at Pattaya Provincial Court.
Simon Peter Carman, 46, rejected all four charges brought against him and maintained that he had acted in self-defence. Prosecutors formally indicted him on Thursday over the alleged intentional murder of Thanchanok Donhomlah, who was from Kalasin province.
In addition to murder, Mr Carman faces charges of concealing and destroying a body, taking a minor away from her parents or guardian for indecent purposes, and committing an indecent act with a minor.
Thanchanok’s body was discovered inside a suitcase beside a railway track in Pattaya on June 26. She had reportedly been seen with Mr Carman the previous day and was reported missing around the same time.
Mr Carman was later arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport while allegedly attempting to leave Thailand. Australian media reported that he was preparing to fly to Perth in Western Australia.
During Friday’s hearing, Mr Carman repeated the account he had previously given police following his arrest in June. He claimed that his actions had been in self-defence and that he had not intended to kill the teenager.
Mr Carman applied for release on bail, but prosecutors opposed the request, arguing that his arrest at the airport indicated he had been preparing to flee the country.
After considering arguments from both sides, the court rejected his bail application and ordered that he remain in custody. An examination of evidence has been scheduled for October 12.
