But as the parents of the girl travelled to Pattaya to collect their daughter’s body, they rejected the apology.
Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, who made the journey from their home in the northeast Thailand province of Kalasin, told local media that Ms Donhomla had only arrived in Pattaya days before her death.
It was her first visit to the town infamous for its wild nightlife, but her parents had let her go with a friend because she had a helpful attitude and never had any issues with drugs.
Through tears, they said they wanted the alleged perpetrator prosecuted and, if guilty, to receive the maximum punishment according to the law.
They said when the friend reported her missing they set off for Pattaya and learnt her body had been found when they were still en route.
Carman had met Ms Donhomla on the beachfront which late at night transforms into a well-known beat for prostitutes who trawl for customers under the palm trees, and so is known to many locals as the ‘Coconut Bar’.
The pair could be seen on CCTV as they walked from the beach and entered the foyer of his hotel at around 3.30am on Thursday.
Carman allegedly told authorities they had agreed he would pay the teen 1,000 baht (AU$43.45), but the pair had an argument when he only offered 500 baht (AU$21.72).
After Ms Donhomla’s friends reported her missing, police searched his accommodation and seized a motorcycle, took DNA and fingerprint samples, but found no sign of Carman.
Then on Friday, Thai authorities issued an urgent alert through the Immigration Bureau system while Pattaya investigators sought an arrest warrant.
Police arrested him at Suvarnabhumi Airport, just minutes before his Jetstar Flight JQ76 to Perth was due to depart.
Officers located the suitcase in long grass with Ms Donhomla inside, with blood and visible wounds to her face and body.
Inside the suitcase with her were the white Onitsuka trainers she was wearing on the night, jeans, underwear, a mobile phone case, a wallet, her gold bracelet and necklace.
The tattoos on her back, arms, chest and left leg matched those in her social media images.
Pattaya detectives have charged Carman with murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes.
Asked by an officer if he killed the girl, Carman said, ‘No’.
…
A murder conviction in Thailand can result in a life sentence or the death penalty.
Lovstuhagen@hilariouschaos.com 1 week ago
This is a big development if it checks out, but it might just be clickbait:
Carmagazine.tv