An Australian man is accused of murdering 17-year-old girl Tunchanok Donhomla in Thailand.
He has pleaded not guilty to four charges, including murder, concealing a corpse and abducting a minor for indecent purposes. He is currently in a Thai prison awaiting trial.
But today we’re seeing headlines regarding an interview with the accused, with the ABC becoming the first foreign news organisation in more than 15 years to get permission to interview a foreigner in a Thai prison.
It’s unclear why this interview was necessary, especially given Tunchanok’s life – and what has been taken away – should be the story here.
Tunchanok was known as “cake” by her family and friends, an affectionate name. Her family have talked about their unbearable grief, noting Tunchanok was easygoing, a talker and someone who loved to smile.
So much of that story has already been taken thanks to the horrific way Tunchanok’s body was discovered, and endless sensationalism reducing Tunchanok to being a “girl in a suitcase”. The “suitcase” headlines continue, even after pleas from advocates to end the clickbait.
Now, the man accused of murdering the teenager is given yet more airtime than Tunchanok’s humanity.
Indeed, today we have commentary regarding how the accused murderer is “hoping and praying” he gets released, thanks to this latest interview.
We hear that he doesn’t “understand what’s going on” and his claim that “I have not done anything wrong. I shouldn’t be here.”
He is “sad”. And he wishes it never happened.
This interview with the accused comes as Thai police last week revealed that the teenager died of suffocation.
The Australian man was arrested as he tried to board a flight to Perth from Bangkok’s international airport on June 27. Police allege he picked up Donhomla near Pattaya Beach on June 25.
Tunchanok was last seen alive on June 25 this year; CCTV captures her holding hands with the Australian man as they walk through the lobby area of his condo building.
As Respect Victoria noted last month, Tunchanok’s humanity should have been centred; instead, her death became a means to centre clickbait, gossip and even excuses. “This is misogyny and racism and action.” The fact is that “women have a right to be safe everywhere”.
A woman’s backstory, where she’s born, what her family does, her work and how she spends her time is no excuse for violence.