A TOURIST accused of murdering a Thai girl before cramming her body into a suitcase made the astonishing claim that scratches on his body were caused by a spider.

Australian Simon Carman, 46, is accused of killing 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla before allegedly hiding her corpse inside luggage abandoned in long grass in Pattaya.

Tunchanok Donhomla was allegedly killed and stuffed in a suitcase

The suspect, Simon Carman, 46, claims the scratches were from a spider

Police said detectives became suspicious after spotting fresh red scratch marks across Carman’s neck and arm when they arrested him as he allegedly tried to flee Thailand.

The cuts appeared to run in straight parallel lines, prompting officers to question whether they had been inflicted during a desperate struggle.

But in police interview footage, Carman insisted the injuries had nothing to do with the teenager’s death.

While sitting handcuffed in custody, the former truck driver pointed towards the marks on the side of his neck.

He calmly told detectives: “This is a spider.”

Carman then gestured towards several scratches on his upper arm and claimed spiders regularly entered his apartment.

He allegedly told police the creatures were “always coming in” to his condo in Pattaya.

The Australian had been renting a small apartment inside the Rimhad Jomtien condominium complex for around 10 months.

The coastal resort is home to common tropical insects including mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches and moths.

Spiders are also found in the area, with many belonging to species similar to Australia’s huntsman spiders, which rarely attack people.

Detectives were unconvinced as they continued investigating the teenager’s disappearance.

The scratch marks bore a striking resemblance to fingernail injuries often seen during violent confrontations.

Police allege CCTV captured Carman wheeling the suitcase

Carman was arrested the following night while allegedly attempting to board a Jetstar flight back to Perth

Photos shared on social media show Ms Donhomla had long, pointed fingernails.

Hours after Carman’s interview, officers discovered a black 29-inch suitcase hidden in grassland behind Pattaya Night Markets.

Inside was the body of the missing 17-year-old.

Police allege CCTV captured Carman wheeling the suitcase through the foyer of his apartment block.

The footage allegedly showed him loading it onto the back of a rented motorbike before leaving the complex.

Investigators claim the suitcase was later dumped near railway tracks.

Police allege Carman admitted choking Ms Donhomla during a confrontation inside his apartment.

He allegedly claimed he acted in self-defence after the teenager threatened him with a knife during an argument over AU$20.

According to Pattaya Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, Carman allegedly told officers the teenager “used a knife to threaten him”.

The senior officer said Carman claimed “he squeezed her neck, causing her to lose consciousness”.

Carman allegedly told detectives she died during the struggle.

Police claim he then left her body inside his bathroom throughout the following day before allegedly disposing of it.

Police allege Carman admitted choking Ms Donhomla during a confrontation

The Australian was seen on CCTV with the teen

During the interview, detectives asked Carman to address the teenager’s devastated family.

Facing the camera, he said: “Sawasdee krab [hello], I feel bad for what happened to your daughter.”

He continued: “It was out of my control. Um, I hope you…I know you’ll be very sad, upset, same same me. It shouldn’t happen and I hope you’re okay.”

A detective then asked him: “Why you kill her?”

Carman replied: “Hey.”

When pressed again with: “You kill her right?”, he answered: “No, no hurt.”

Friends said Ms Donhomla had travelled to Pattaya from her hometown of Kalasin just 12 days before her death.

She is believed to have met Carman near Soi 6 in Pattaya’s notorious red-light district during the early hours of June 25.

CCTV allegedly captured the pair walking hand in hand along Beach Road shortly after 2.30am.

Around an hour later they were allegedly filmed entering Carman’s apartment building together.

Friends later revealed the teenager had messaged one of them complaining the Australian’s flat was “so messy”.

The apartment was described as a cramped bedsit containing little more than a bed, television, couch and fridge.

Carman allegedly told detectives she died during the struggle

The cuts appeared to run in straight parallel lines

Footage filmed after the teenager vanished showed empty alcohol bottles scattered across the room.

Among them were bottles of Casamigos Blanco Tequila and Hopscotch Distillers Dry Gin.

Carman was arrested the following night while allegedly attempting to board a Jetstar flight back to Perth.

He has been charged with murder, concealing a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes.

Carman is being held in the hospital wing of Pattaya Remand Prison for his own protection as police continue their investigation.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16629804/tourist-killed-thai-girl-suitcase-blames-spider/