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<\/p>\nA Thai teenager allegedly murdered by an Australian citizen died of suffocation, according to the police autopsy revealed to the ABC.<\/p>\n
The teen’s accused murderer, Simon Carman, has been in Thai police custody since late June, when he was arrested at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, attempting to board a flight to Australia.<\/p>\n
Police allege the 45-year-old Australian man picked up 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, who is affectionately known as “Cake”, near Pattaya Beach in the early hours of June 25.<\/p>\n
Her naked body was found two days later, stuffed inside a suitcase that had been dumped near railway tracks about a 10-minute drive from Mr Carman’s accommodation.<\/p>\n
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Pattaya City Police Station Superintendent Colonel Anek Srathongyoo said the police investigation was close to completion.\u00a0 (ABC News: Haidarr Jones)<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview with the ABC, the superintendent at the Pattaya City Police Station said the investigation was close to completion.<\/p>\n
“The autopsy report said that Cake had a brain injury and she suffocated. She had no other injuries,” Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo said.<\/p>\n
“We also collected Simon [Carman’s] DNA and matched it to DNA found on Cake’s body.<\/p>\n
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Police retraced her last moments to the hotel room she had entered with Mr Carman.<\/p>\n
“I think by this Friday [August 21] we will conclude our investigation and submit the files to the prosecutor,” Police Colonel Anek said, adding that prosecutors had until September 18 to indict Mr Carman.<\/p>\n
“I think we have collected 100 per cent of the evidence. Once it is brought before the court, the court can consider imposing a sentence quickly.”<\/p>\n
Family want ‘justice’ for Cake![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/51238118bc2ba8aff00f761a39672002.jpeg\")
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Tunchanok Donhomla’s family has been left deeply shaken by her death. (ABC News: Natalie Whiting)<\/p>\n
Ms Tunchanok’s father, Thongchai Donhomla, said he was “relieved” to hear there was progress in his daughter’s case.<\/p>\n
“I don’t have the legal knowledge or the money to pursue all these proceedings myself, so I have to rely on the media,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I don’t ask for much. I just hope my child gets the justice she deserves.”<\/p>\n
In June, Police Colonel Anek said Mr Carman had initially been charged with “taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act”.<\/p>\n
“We believe he killed her, and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder,” he said at the time.<\/p>\n
“He has fingernail scratches across his body that are consistent with a struggle, but he denies killing her.<\/p>\n
“He said that she disappeared from the room while [he] was asleep and unaware of anything.”<\/p>\n
Pair argued about money, police say<\/p>\n
Mr Carman reportedly also told authorities he acted in self-defence, alleging Ms Tunchanok threatened him with a knife.<\/p>\n
Mr Carman has been charged with four offences, including moving a body, taking a minor for sexual purposes, and murder, which carries the death penalty or life in prison.<\/p>\n
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