Parents of teenage girl found stuffed into suitcase in Thailand speak out as they make nightmarish trip to collect her body - after Australian tourist was charged with murder when he tried to leave the country

By CANDACE SUTTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 14:58, 28 June 2026 | Updated: 14:58, 28 June 2026 The grieving parents of a tiny Thai teenager allegedly murdered and stuffed into a suitcase by an Australian truckie have vowed to 'never forgive' her killer. Simon Carman, 46, from south of Perth, was arrested after the body of 17-year-old Thongchai 'Nong Cake' Donhomla was found by local police in luggage near railway tracks at Pattaya, south Thailand, late on Friday night. Detectives allege the British-born tradie folded her naked body into the 29-inch black suitcase, which he threw into long grass before trying to flee the country for Perth. He has been charged with her murder.  In police video footage Carman, who runs a mobile refuelling service between Perth and regional Victoria and has a decade-long association with Thailand, said he was 'sorry' as he addressed Ms Donhomla's family. 'I feel bad for what happened to your daughter,' Carman said. He allegedly told investigators that Ms Donhomla had attacked him with a knife, and that he had acted in self-defence. The parents of a Thai girl who was allegedly murdered on Friday have broken down in tears CCTV allegedly showed the Thai teenager and the Australian tourist holding hands as they walked into an elevator  Simon Peter Carman, 45, is alleged to have picked up Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, from a bar in Pattaya before travelling back to his hotel on Thursday But as the parents of the girl, affectionally known as 'Little Cake' to those who were close to her, travelled to Pattaya to collect their daughter's body, they said they would 'never forgive' Carman despite the apology. Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, who made the journey from their home in the northern Thailand province Kalasin, near the Laotian border, told local media that Ms Donhomla had only arrived in Pattaya days before her death. It was her first visit to the beach resort town, but her parents had let her go with friends because she had a helpful attitude and never had any issues with drugs. Through tears, they said they wanted the alleged perpetrator prosecuted and, if guilty, to receive the maximum punishment according to the law.  They said when friends reported her missing they set off on the the trip to Pattaya and were told her body had been found on their way there.  Carman had met Ms Donhomla at the so-called 'Coconut Bar', a notorious strip of night-time food trucks, bars and girls in downtown Pattaya. The pair could be seen on CCTV as they walked beneath palm trees and then entered through the foyer of his hotel block at around 3.30am on Thursday. Carman allegedly told authorities they had agreed he would pay the teen 1,000 baht (AU$43.45) to accompany him, but the pair had an argument when he offered 500 baht (AU$21.72). Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line, just ten minutes from Carman's hotel Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, made the journey from their home in the northern Thailand province Kalasin, near the Laotian border, to retrieve their daughter The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is 'providing consular assistance to the Australian detained in Thailand' (pictured, Carman allegedly seen on CCTV riding a scooter) Ms Donhomla was found stuffed inside a suitcase alongside a railway line  After Ms Donhomla's friends reported her missing, police searched the condo and seized a motorcycle, took DNA and fingerprint samples, but found no sign of Carman. Then on Friday, Thai authorities issued an urgent alert through the Immigration Bureau system while Pattaya investigators sought an arrest warrant. Police arrested the Australian at Suvarnabhumi Airport, just minutes before his Jetstar Flight JQ76 to Perth was due to depart. Officers located the suitcase in long grass with Ms Donhomla inside, with blood and visible wounds to her face and body. Inside the suitcase with her were the white Onitsuka trainers she wore in the video with Carman, jeans, underwear, a mobile phone case, a wallet, her gold bracelet and necklace. The tattoos on her back, arms, chest and left leg matched those in her social media images. Pattaya detectives have charged Carman with four offences: murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes. Asked by an officer if he killed the girl, Carman said, 'No'. Carman wheeling a black suitcase can allegedly be seen leaving the condo Thursday evening The 17-year-old known as 'Nong Cake' was allegedly stuffed into the suitcase naked and the bag then wheeled from the condo, put on the back of a motorbike and pitched from the vehicle onto a railway line siding  He was asked about the visible scratches and bruises on his neck and arms. In the police footage, Carman said the marks were due to 'the spiders' which he said were 'always' appearing at the condominium where he stayed. Ms Donhomla had travelled from Kalasin Province in northern Thailand near the Laos border and may have been operating with a fake ID. Thai child protection laws prohibit the sexual exploitation of people under 18. Carman remains in the custody of Pattaya City Police station and is undergoing further questioning as investigators continue to gather evidence. A murder conviction in Thailand can result in a life sentence or the death penalty. 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