An Australian man charged with murder in Thailand has appeared in court over the death of a 17-year-old girl in the eastern tourist city of Pattaya.
Simon Peter Carman, 45, is accused of murdering Tunchanok Donhomla and concealing her body. He also faces two charges of indecent acts on a minor.
Carman appeared at Pattaya Provincial Court on Friday to respond to an indictment issued by prosecutors the previous day, according to Pattaya City Police chief Anek Srathongyoo.
The court is considering whether the case should proceed to trial. Carman denies all the charges and is being held at Pattaya Remand Prison.
Tunchanok was reported missing in June. Police said security footage showed her entering a condominium with Carman before he was later seen leaving alone with a large suitcase.
Further footage allegedly showed Carman placing the suitcase on a motorbike and travelling to a deserted area beside a railway. He was arrested at a Bangkok airport before he could board a flight to Australia.
Police said questioning subsequently led them to the suitcase, which contained the girl’s body. Pattaya is about 150km south-east of Bangkok.
In an interrogation video shared by Thai media, Carman said he had acted in self-defence because the girl was threatening him with a knife.
A conviction for premeditated murder carries a possible death sentence in Thailand.
