An Australian man has been charged with murder after the body of a 17-year-old girl was found inside a suitcase near railway tracks in Thailand.
Police in the seaside city of Pattaya discovered the body of Tunchanok Donhomla in a suitcase abandoned near train tracks on Saturday, June 28.
According to the BBC, authorities arrested 45-year-old Simon Peter Carman at Bangkok's main airport, alleging he was preparing to flee the country.
Carman denied the allegations. However, after his arrest, he reportedly sent a message to the girl's family saying, "I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control."
He also said, "Please tell other girls... just to be careful."
Thai authorities said the teenager had been reported missing on Friday, June 27.
Security camera footage first shared by the outlet and reviewed by TNX Africa captured Carman entering an apartment building with the girl early on Thursday.
The pair appeared relaxed as they walked in holding hands. Later that night, Carman was seen leaving alone carrying a large suitcase.
Police said CCTV footage showed him loading the suitcase onto a motorcycle and riding towards the railway tracks.
Officers arrested him at Bangkok's main airport, about 150 kilometres from Pattaya, early on Saturday. The girl's body was discovered in the suitcase about 15 minutes later.
The victim, nicknamed "Cake", was an only child.
In addition to murder, Carman has been charged with concealing a body and taking a minor for sexual purposes. He denied all charges and claimed he acted in self-defence.
According to investigators, Carman told police he had agreed to pay the girl 1,000 baht (Sh3,883) for sex.
He alleged they argued after he offered her only half the agreed amount. He later gave a different account, claiming the girl disappeared from his apartment while he was asleep.
Pattaya police chief Colonel Anek Srathongyoo told ABC that Carman had scratches across his body consistent with a struggle.
When questioned about the injuries, Carman claimed they were caused by spiders.
The teenager's family were left devastated by her death.
According to local media, she had told her parents she was going on holiday with a friend.
Her father described her as a caring daughter who always tried to support herself, while her stepmother said she wanted the suspect to face the death penalty.