Australian murder suspect claims self-defence, apologises to victim's family

The Australian man in police custody for the alleged murder of a 17-year-old woman in Pattaya has claimed that he acted in self-defence and had no intention of killing her.

He also said he wanted to apologise to the victim's family.

The suspect, identified by Pattaya police as 46-year-old Simon, has been charged with murder, concealing and attempting to destroy a body, and taking a minor away from her parents for sexual purposes.

According to Pattaya police, the Australian allegedly admitted through an interpreter during questioning on Saturday morning, in the presence of his lawyer, that he had unintentionally killed the 17-year-old, a resident of Kalasin province identified only as Tanchanok.

The suspect told police that he met the victim at about 3am on Thursday on Jomtien Beach and persuaded her to accompany him to his rented condominium.

He claimed that after they arrived at the room, the victim received a phone call and told him it was not convenient for her to spend the night with him. He said she then asked him for 500 baht.

As he reached for his wallet, he claimed that the victim demanded more money, which he refused to pay.

He claimed the pair struggled after the victim allegedly threatened him with a knife. He said she later became unresponsive and that he realised she had died.

The suspect allegedly stuffed the body into a suitcase and left it in the bathroom for a day. He claimed he did so because he did not know how to dispose of it.

According to Pattaya police, the suspect later transported the suitcase by motorcycle and dumped it on a vacant lot beside a railway track.

He allegedly told police that he then returned to his condominium on Friday, packed his belongings and headed to Suvarnabhumi International Airport to catch a flight to Perth.

He was stopped and detained by immigration officers after Pattaya police alerted them following a missing-person report filed by the victim's relatives.

The suspect’s statements led police to the discovery of a suitcase containing the victim’s body. Initial reports quoted police as saying the body was bruised all over.