Australian man accused of teenage girl's murder appears in Thailand court

An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, appeared in court for the first time on Friday facing charges of murder and concealment of a body tied to the death of a 17-year-old girl in Pattaya, an eastern tourist city in Thailand. Police said Carman was arrested in June after the teenager was reported missing in Pattaya, about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, and a suitcase containing her body was found shortly afterward. Prosecutors indicted him on Thursday. Carman also faces two counts of indecent acts on a minor. Pattaya’s police chief, Anek Srathongyoo, said the court would decide whether to take the case to trial; Carman, who denied all charges, is held at the Pattaya Remand Prison. Premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty. Police said security footage showed the girl entering a condominium with Carman, then him leaving alone with a suitcase. He was arrested at Bangkok’s airport before flying to Australia, and authorities say further questioning led to the body. In an interrogation video, Carman said he acted in self-defense, claiming the girl threatened him with a knife.