Perth man Simon Carman’s casual behaviour after allegedly murdering Thai girl caught on camera
CCTV footage shows a WA man accused of murdering a 17-year-old Thai girl going about his normal daily activities just hours after he allegedly dumped her body in a suitcase.
Pattaya City Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo said that Simon Peter Carman was having breakfast, talking to people, buying food and doing his laundry in the foyer of the complex where he lived. Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The 45-year-old man’s series of mundane activities were documented by CCTV cameras, which recorded his comings and goings between 3.30pm, when he brought local teenager Tunchanok Donhomla back to where he was staying, and 9pm, when he allegedly tied a suitcase containing the girl’s body to his motorbike and threw it away.
“He seemed to be going about his daily routine as usual. We watched every clip. He went downstairs to get groceries, bought some groceries, did his laundry; everything seemed completely normal,” Mr Sthongyoo said.
“Then we got to the part of the footage where he was with the bag… but instead of going out the front entrance, he went out the back door.”
According to CCTV footage, he was seen leaving the complex in Jomtien, about 150 kilometers south of Bangkok, riding a rented scooter with a suitcase strapped to the back, and returning without it about 10 to 20 minutes later, Mr Sthongyoo told the publication.
Thanchanok Donhomla’s body was found in thick grass in a suitcase a few hours after Mr Carman was detained at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport the next day, minutes before boarding a flight to Perth.
According to media reports, the suitcase contained an electronic cigarette, a phone and some receipts tucked into the spaces between his limbs.
People who knew Mr. Carman said he had lived on the 15th floor of the tower complex for at least eight months, SMH reported.
Local police allege the Australian man agreed with the girl for sexual services before a dispute broke out over payment after she allegedly agreed to pay 1,000 baht ($A44) but only offered 500 baht when they arrived at his flat.
Mr. Carman, who denies all charges against him and claims he acted in self-defense, is charged with murder, transporting or concealing a corpse and taking a minor for sexual purposes.
If convicted of murder, the maximum penalty under Thai law is death. Mr Sthongyoo said he expected the case to be concluded within 84 days of Carman’s arrest.
