Australian Simon Peter Carman has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of concealing a corpse in the case involving the death of 17-year-old Thai girl Tunchanok Donhomla, known to her family as Cake. However, he continues to contest the other charges brought against him, including intentional murder.

The case was before Pattaya Provincial Court on 12 October 2026. Carman, a 45-year-old Australian who was arrested in Thailand in late June, faces four charges: intentional murder, concealing a corpse, moving or destroying a corpse, and abducting a minor for indecent purposes. Police discovered Tunchanok’s body inside a discarded suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya in June. The discovery prompted an investigation into her death and the movements of people who had been in contact with her before she disappeared.

According to evidence described in court, CCTV footage showed Carman dragging a suitcase from the building where he was staying. Investigators allege the suitcase was later transported on a motorcycle and discarded near the railway tracks. The teenager’s body was discovered inside it two days after she was last seen alive. A police autopsy found that Tunchanok died from suffocation. The court proceedings are examining the evidence surrounding her death and the actions alleged against Carman.

During the hearing, the presiding judge spoke to Carman through a translator and encouraged him to plead guilty to the charge of concealing a corpse. The judge also raised the possibility of a guilty plea to the murder charge, but Carman rejected that suggestion, maintaining that doing so would be a lie. Carman has consistently denied murdering the teenager. He has claimed that she was responsible for her own death and has previously said he acted in self-defence. These claims remain contested and must be considered through the legal process.

The court also heard that Tunchanok’s family has filed a civil compensation claim seeking 1.65 million Thai baht, equivalent to approximately A$70,500. The family says the money would help cover funeral expenses and compensate for the financial support the teenager might have provided to her father in the future.

Her cousin, Khanitta Nongkhampoon, told reporters that the family wanted the case pursued fully. She said no financial payment could replace the young woman or the future she had lost. Thai legal officials explained that the civil compensation claim can be heard alongside the criminal case. The family will only be awarded compensation if the legal requirements are met, including a conviction against Carman.

Carman has remained in custody at Pattaya Remand Prison since his arrest. If convicted of murder, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty under Thai law. The court indicated that it would prioritise the case because of its seriousness and international attention. Proceedings are expected to continue, with the criminal charges and the family’s compensation claim being considered together.

The case remains ongoing. Carman’s agreement to plead guilty to concealing a corpse does not mean he has admitted to murder, and the other charges have not been resolved.