@dailiynews: Thai police are investigating whether an Australian man charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl could be connected to two unsolved deaths involving women whose bodies were also found in suitcases. Police stress there is currently no evidence linking 45-year-old Simon Peter Carman to the earlier cases, but say similarities in the crime scenes have prompted investigators to examine the possibility. Carman was charged over the weekend with the alleged murder of 17-year-old Thunchanok Donhomla, whose body was discovered inside a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya in the early hours of Saturday. Pattaya City Police Superintendent Colonel Anek Srathongyoo told The Guardian that detectives were looking into the two unsolved cases in neighbouring districts. “Although there was no evidence linking Simon Peter Carman to the cases in neighboring regions, they were investigating the possibility given the similarities between the cases,” he said. Investigators say the two unsolved cases occurred within the past two years and involved women whose bodies were also discovered inside suitcases. Those investigations proved more difficult because more time had elapsed between the victims’ deaths and the discovery of their bodies. Police believe both women worked in the region’s adult entertainment industry. Their bodies were found in the Huay Yai district, within the same province as Pattaya, and the Ban Chang district in the neighbouring province. Col Srathongyoo said he is working with police in both districts as the investigations fall outside his jurisdiction. Investigators have also established that Carman rented a condominium in Jomtien Beach for one year. Police say he entered Thailand on a tourist visa in December before later extending his stay. According to Col Srathongyoo, there is no record of Carman overstaying his visa or having a criminal history in Thailand. Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has revealed the government is prepared to offer Carman consular support. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Senator Wong labelled the case “horrific” but refused to go into details about such assistance. “This is horrific, and I think we’ve all been horrified by what has been reported and extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends who have lost someone they love dearly,” she said. “In relation to consular matters, we provide consular assistance to people,” she added. “I’m not able to provide details of that because I’m bound by privacy requirements. “But all Australians have access to consular support around the world when necessary.” The Department of Foreign Affairs says it provides consular assistance in the event an Australian is jailed overseas through welfare support, recommendations for local lawyers, and ensuring basic needs are met. It warns that it cannot help Australians out of local laws and penalties, including the death penalty. The government can, however, provide financial help to cover the cost of legal fees if the accused is facing the death penalty. Police allege that Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, was strangled to death by Carman following a dispute over payment for her company. Thai police discovered Donhomla’s body in a black suitcase dumped by a railway line near Carman’s apartment block 15 minutes after he was arrested. She was found partially covered in similar-looking clothes to those she was seen wearing on CCTV footage outside Carman’s apartment block. Slain Thai teenager Thunchanok Donhomla reportedly texted her friends once she arrived at alleged killer Simon Peter Carman’s apartment. It would be one of the last things she’d ever do. Pattaya City Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo said Donhomla messaged her friends through the Line messaging app that she was going to stay with Carman that night. I’ve arrived at [his] apartment. The room is so messy,” Srathongyoo said, the message read in an interview with SBS Thai. #usa #THAILAND #AUSTRALIA #crime #news

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Tuesday 30 June 2026 18:25:12 GMT