Neighbours and workers have painted a picture of Simon Peter Carman, the Australian man accused of murdering a 17-year-old girl in Thailand, as a quiet and polite regular at local bars and cafes. Carman, 45, a former truck driver, is charged with murdering Tunchanok Donhomla, known as "Cake," in the resort city of Pattaya last week. Her body was found stuffed in a suitcase and dumped near train tracks. Carman was arrested allegedly trying to flee on a flight to Perth.
Alleged events leading to murder charge
According to police, Carman was seen drinking at a red light district bar around 2am before meeting the teen at the beach. They returned to his apartment, where police allege a dispute over money led to her death. Police claim Carman told them he "may have strangled her, causing her to lose consciousness and eventually die," before panicking and placing her body in a suitcase.
While the body was hidden in his bathroom, Carman allegedly sent casual WhatsApp messages to a local sex worker, saying, "I'm so tired. I'm going to go for a swim today." The woman reportedly panicked when she learned hours later that Carman had been arrested.
Character insights from locals
Neighbours and workers at a bar and cafe Carman frequented described him as a "quiet and pretty chill person." One woman said, "He speaks slowly. He liked coming to play pool at the bar. I never saw him drunk or cause any trouble. He was always polite to the staff. Sometimes he'd buy people drinks." Another said Carman enjoyed swimming and beach walks, while a masseuse recalled him as friendly, once tipping her $20. A restaurant owner who saw him often said she had never heard complaints about him.
Safety concerns in Pattaya nightlife
Pattaya Nightlife Business Association vice president Sunny Werner said the area is generally safe, with patrol officers and police monitoring. "If there are any fights or disturbances, the police respond very quickly," Werner said. However, a bar worker noted, "You hear stories about foreign men being sadistic or physically abusing people. There have been a lot of cases like that." Local bar manager Sky Kanyarat added, "I want tourists to see us as human beings. Please don't hurt us. We have families. We have children, younger siblings, fathers and mothers just like tourists do. We want to go home and see them too."
Legal proceedings and funeral
Carman has denied murder, claiming self-defence, alleging the teen threatened him. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Hundreds attended a Buddhist funeral for Donhomla this week. The official autopsy has been completed, and investigators await results.
