Appeal Court rejects a man’s appeal against murder conviction

 

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

Phnom Penh Appeal Court yesterday upheld the 11-year jail term of a man accused of killing his girlfriend in a jealous rage. 

The murder took place on March 4, 2019 at a guesthouse room located in Takeo province’s Daun Keo district. 

Presiding Judge Plong Samnang identified the accused as Sok Chanlida, 33, a phone vendor from the district. 

The victim was identified as Khin Chenda, 21, a karaoke girl who lived in Takeo province’s Traing district. 

Judge Samnang said that Chanlida was convicted on April 23, last year by Takeo provincial court which also ordered him to pay about $1,250 in compensation to the mother of victim.

He was charged “murder” under Article 199 of the Criminal Code. 

Judge Samnang said that the accused was arrested at about 12 pm on March 4, 2019 in Daun Keo district. 

He added that Chanlida was arrested after he killed the victim by strangling her to death at the guesthouse room after alleging that she was cheating on him by having an affair with another man. 

The accused could not be contacted for comment yesterday. 

However, during his appeal hearing on December 13, Chanlida denied the allegations and claimed the victim died during an epilepsy fit. 

He told the court that on the day of victim’s death, both of them went to stay at the guesthouse to have sex as they normally did. 

He said that at the time of the incident, the victim had epilepsy, which was congenital and bit her tongue in the room while they were having sex. 

 “I tried to save her, but unfortunately she died at the scene,” said Chanlida. “After she has died, I alerted the guesthouse owner while the guesthouse owner who reported it to police and the victim’s relatives. The victim’s relatives and police accused me of killing the victim and I was arrested,” he said.

 According to the police’s report, Chanlida was arrested based on his fingerprints found on the victim’s throat and mouth [injuries]. Police experts concluded that he killed the victim by pressing her throat. 

But Chanlida said his fingerprints on the victim’s throat or mouth were because he tried to save her while she was having the epilepsy fit. 

//END//

 

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