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Aussie Murder Suspect Faces Thai Compensation Talks

Australian truck driver Simon Carman, 45, could receive a substantially reduced prison sentence if he is convicted of murdering Thai teenager Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, in Pattaya and reaches a compensation agreement with her family under Thai law. Carman is being held at Pattaya Remand Prison after being charged with murder following the discovery of the teenager’s body, concealed in a suitcase left in long grass near railway tracks.

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Carman, from Perth’s southern suburbs, was arrested at Bangkok’s main international airport, while police alleged he was preparing to leave Thailand on a flight to Australia. He denies murdering Tunchanok, known as Cake, and claims he acted in self-defence. Police have said their investigation remains ongoing.

According to police sources cited by the Daily Mail, discussions over financial compensation for the victim’s parents, Thongchai Donhomla and Oradee Bussarakum, are expected to form part of the legal process. The sources stressed that compensation does not prevent prosecution, but may be considered by the court alongside a guilty plea and expressions of remorse when deciding any sentence.

One police source said the family could be asked what level of compensation they would accept, with negotiations continuing until an agreement is reached. The source gave one million baht, about AU$43,000, as an example figure, noting it represents around eight years’ wages for someone earning the provincial minimum wage per day.

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The same source claimed that a guilty plea could reduce a sentence by 50 per cent, while a compensation agreement accepted by the victim’s family could carry significant weight during sentencing. They suggested that, in such circumstances, a convicted offender could potentially be released after as little as seven years. Under Thai law, however, compensation alone does not guarantee a reduced sentence, with the final decision resting with the court.

Prison officials told the Daily Mail that Carman has shown no visible emotion since his arrest and has not received visits from family, friends or members of the local expatriate community. He has been transferred to the hospital wing of Pattaya Remand Prison and is being housed separately from the main prison population for safety reasons.

The Daily Mall reported that authorities said Carman can be held at Pattaya Remand Prison for up to 84 days while detectives continue gathering evidence. Police have stated that he is cooperating with the investigation.

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Pictures courtesy of Daily Mail

Related story

Australian-arrested-at-Bangkok-airport-over-Pattaya-murder

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailymail 4 July 2026

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newnative Diamond Member

newnative

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, Celsius said:

I don't know who's more evil..... the Aussie Brit, or the parents who sent her to "work"

Easy--the disgusting murderer. Hope the court throws the book at him despite any 'remorse' or compensation.

PJ71 Platinum Member

PJ71

Advanced Member
16 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Amazing Thailand you committed crime then you pay the victim’s parents money and they’re talking about reducing the sentence before he’s even going on trial what are the country does this I’m just curious TIT

I've worked all over the world and it's not uncommon that "blood money" is paid rather than prison time / convictions. It's mostly what most westerners would consider a minimal amount but in the poorer countries can be life changing money for the families.

Sad.....but true!

wensiensheng Platinum Member

wensiensheng

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, smedly said:

I know who is evil - the scumbab that murdered this young girl

sounds like you are trying to justify this evil scums actions.......really ?

he murdered a 17 year old -what part of that are you not getting

authorities should be looking very closely at you............I hope they do

Why would the authorities be looking at him? He doesn’t have anything to do with the case.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Woke to Sounds said:

No amount of $$ can bring Cake back.

Disgusting that compensation would even be considered to factor in a reduced sentence for the Aussie scumbag.

The parents ought to show a moral backbone and refuse $$.

Aussie needs the electric chair more than the family needs the cash.

💯%

Why shouldn't they take the money, The daughter s dead and nothing is going to change that, You have no Idea how much the family needs the cash, Its nothing to do with a moral backbone or the lack of one.

Would some cash improve their lives ? yes, without doubt but of course it won't bring the daughter back

Would a harsher sentence improve their lives No not at all and the daughter would still be dead

Time to be pragmatic, Would it be more difficult to grieve with a few million bt in the bank and the debts paid off? not at all

fredwiggy Star Member

fredwiggy

Advanced Member
20 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Amazing Thailand you committed crime then you pay the victim’s parents money and they’re talking about reducing the sentence before he’s even going on trial what are the country does this I’m just curious TIT

Countries where money means more than life itself. It's understandable to pay compensation if the person killed had dependents, meaning children, and for funeral arrangements.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
9 minutes ago, JerryM said:

AS i said elsewhere: Can't get blood out of a turnip

He might be worth a fortune in Australia though, who brings all there money over here?

jimn Gold Member

jimn

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, Celsius said:

I don't know who's more evil..... the Aussie Brit, or the parents who sent her to "work"

If you think that you are so naive. These girls make their own decisions to come to work in Pattaya. They see their friends partying and the bright lights and say I want some of that. Its got nothing to do with the parents.

BilllyGOAT Silver Member

BilllyGOAT

Advanced Member
8 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Why shouldn't they take the money, The daughter s dead and nothing is going to change that, You have no Idea how much the family needs the cash, Its nothing to do with a moral backbone or the lack of one.

Would some cash improve their lives ? yes, without doubt but of course it won't bring the daughter back

Would a harsher sentence improve their lives No not at all and the daughter would still be dead

Time to be pragmatic, Would it be more difficult to grieve with a few million bt in the bank and the debts paid off? not at all

Brilliant idea. There's a reason that they put murderers in jail and/or give them a life sentence. But let's let this one out so he can go off and kill somebody else.

JJ-Thailand Silver Member

JJ-Thailand

Advanced Member

This is not the first time this has happened in Pattaya:
In 2005, Swedish man Kenneth Eriksson was convicted of manslaughter after a Thai woman’s body was hidden in a suitcase. He received 5 years in prison after a guilty plea.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
5 minutes ago, jimn said:

If you think that you are so naive. These girls make their own decisions to come to work in Pattaya. They see their friends partying and the bright lights and say I want some of that. Its got nothing to do with the parents.

Exactly, for a young girl from a provincial village, the bright lights and nightlife of Pattaya are very attractive, Its a very stimulating environment for them , a few don't take to it but most love it , They return home occasionally but generally they can't wait to get back

NorthernRyland Ruby Member

NorthernRyland

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, smedly said:

sounds like you are trying to justify this evil scums actions.......really ?

he murdered a 17 year old -what part of that are you not getting

authorities should be looking very closely at you............I hope they do

Wasn't she sending money home to them and they all knew about it? Loads of people living in poverty in that same region but not all of them send their daughters into prostitution which is dangerous for a number of reasons.

BilllyGOAT Silver Member

BilllyGOAT

Advanced Member
19 minutes ago, JerryM said:

Last I heard of the police are checking his internet history to see if maybe he got the suitcase idea from the other 2 unsolved murders.

Bizarre logic. But that would confirm it was a premeditated murder rather than the story he gave of a squabble over 500 Baht that ended up in an unplanned murder. So even more reason to lock him up for life.

NorthernRyland Ruby Member

NorthernRyland

Advanced Member
13 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Why shouldn't they take the money, The daughter s dead and nothing is going to change that, You have no Idea how much the family needs the cash, Its nothing to do with a moral backbone or the lack of one.

Giving them cash is good of course but then he gets a reduced sentenced and deterrent of the law is weakened. You don't want guys thinking they can pay their way out of murder.

I don't know the full details but if the family encouraged her to be a prostitute with the goal of profiting, then give them no money. Hopefully Thailand has laws against the exploitation of minors and the parents get some jail time too.

Woke to Sounds Gold Member

Woke to Sounds

Advanced Member
14 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Would some cash improve their lives ? yes, without doubt but of course it won't bring the daughter back

Would a harsher sentence improve their lives No not at all and the daughter would still be dead

Time to be pragmatic, Would it be more difficult to grieve with a few million bt in the bank and the debts paid off? not at all

I respectfully disagree.

Grief does not care about money, whether a lack of or abundance of.

But I would wager the family would feel a beautiful sense of revenge knowing that f***er was particularly suffering in prison (or had suffered an even worse fate).

Eye for an eye is actually a wonderful thing.

Straight8 Silver Member

Straight8

Advanced Member
40 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Amazing Thailand you committed crime then you pay the victim’s parents money and they’re talking about reducing the sentence before he’s even going on trial what are the country does this I’m just curious TIT

Better to grieve with 1,000,000 baht then to grieve without it?

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Brilliant idea. There's a reason that they put murderers in jail and/or give them a sentence. But let's let this one out so he can go off and kill somebody else.

I doubt the bereaved family are overly concerned about anybody else. Anyway its hardly "my idea" its the way things are done over here, if you can't accept it then that's your problem. Better you learn what sort of reduced sentence is served before you decide whether he will kill again or not, Where does it say he will be let out? and when? did you make that bit up ?

You should calm down , you sound hysterical,

JerryM Gold Member

JerryM

Advanced Member

There is a Thai victim compensation fund that would allow for death related expenses up to 300K baht.

As for getting a million baht from the perp, read about his life in WA.

JerryM Gold Member

JerryM

Advanced Member
10 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Bizarre logic. But that would confirm it was a premeditated murder rather than the story he gave of a squabble over 500 Baht that ended up in an unplanned murder. So even more reason to lock him up for life.

No it might just explain his actions post murder.

Deerculler Silver Member

Deerculler

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, redwood1 said:

I see a new Go Fund Me starting soon....

If that is what you want to do.

Do it.

newbee2022 Star Member

newbee2022

Advanced Member
25 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Which he will probably have spent by now , but I expect the family will be looking for a little more than that

Carman probably has to set up a #gofundme finally??

3 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Amazing, you've not mentioned British in this 👏

You can add it if it would make your day.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds said:

I respectfully disagree.

Grief does not care about money, whether a lack of or abundance of.

But I would wager the family would feel a beautiful sense of revenge knowing that f***er was particularly suffering in prison (or had suffered an even worse fate).

Eye for an eye is actually a wonderful thing.

Disagree all you like, you obviously do not understand how things work here, whatever he pays he won't be getting a suspended sentence, it might just make the difference between a death sentence (that might never be carried out), or life imprisonment,

He will probably die in prison anyway , the family might as well get something out of him before that happens

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Carman probably has to set up a #gofundme finally??

Whilst in police custody ? I doubt it

JensenZ Platinum Member

JensenZ

Advanced Member

5 hours ago, Celsius said:

I don't know who's more evil..... the Aussie Brit, or the parents who sent her to "work"

Do you think most of these freelancers are sent to work by their parents? It's disgusting that you would make that assumption without knowing the girl or her family.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
16 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Giving them cash is good of course but then he gets a reduced sentenced and deterrent of the law is weakened. You don't want guys thinking they can pay their way out of murder.

I doubt there will be an invasion of wealthy foreigners coming here to commit murder as a result the family receiving compensation from the perp . How reduced do you think his sentence will be ? 500bt and a wai? I doubt it , he will still do serious time , and probably die in prison

BilllyGOAT Silver Member

BilllyGOAT

Advanced Member
19 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

I doubt the bereaved family are overly concerned about anybody else. Anyway its hardly "my idea" its the way things are done over here, if you can't accept it then that's your problem. Better you learn what sort of reduced sentence is served before you decide whether he will kill again or not, Where does it say he will be let out? and when? did you make that bit up ?

You should calm down , you sound hysterical,

Are you serious? Did you even read the article?

It literally says that with a guilty plea and compensation, he could potentially be released after as little as seven years. So no, I didn’t make that up. You just glitched.

wavodavo Gold Member

wavodavo

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Where would he get the funds to compensate ?

Win the Thai lottery ?

I haven't seen any comment from the murderer's family / parents yet I ask the question would you stump up $40.000 ?? in compensation if you were his parents / family members ?? Well I wouldn't I would let the cumbag rot in jail.

Scouse123 Ruby Member

Scouse123

Advanced Member

The idiot was doing odd jobs in Pattaya, his accommodation was a train wreck and a complete mess. His place of abode in Australia was on site at his workplace, living out of a trailer.

He even tried bargaining her from 1,000 baht down to 500 baht for ' services '

Without even going into the rights and wrongs of court compensation, does anyone here honestly think this clown is in a position to give the family a substantial sum to get his sentence reduced?

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Are you serious? Did you even read the article?

It literally says that with a guilty plea and compensation, he could potentially be released after as little as seven years. So no, I didn’t make that up. Your just glitched.

"potentially" so you have made it up Anyway why not wait and see what happens before you start virtue signalling, If the family are happy with whatever arrangement is arrived at then that's good enough for me , Its not about you at all is it ? What gives you the right to criticise them ?

This is not the UK I guarantee that in a high profile case like this, occuring during the current crackdown, and with a "patriotic" PM like Anutin at the helm, a foreign man who has murdered a young Thai woman in such grisly circumstances will not be out of prison in seven years, and he will not get a royal pardon,

Don't believe all you read, a lot of it is merely intended to provoke a response

Scouse123 Ruby Member

Scouse123

Advanced Member

If anybody needs assistance setting up a GoFundMe, it would be the parents of the girl.

However, do they deserve it?

Her father allowed her, at 17 years old, to go off to Pattaya, knowing full well how they earn money down there.

Taboo2 Gold Member

Taboo2

Advanced Member

For those who do not know anything about Thailand...Money #1 in this country,,,,ok. Remember that.

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