A suspect is expected to be charged in Kampong Cham Provincial Court today for the murder of a 12-year-old girl and the attempted killing of a 13-year-old, after he allegedly stabbed the girls a total of 18 times with a woodworking tool.

Sin Lany, 12, and Roan Phally, 13, were driving home on a narrow road in Tbong Khmum province’s Dambe district on Saturday evening, when they had a small collision with suspect Sman Vy, 26, said James McCabe, operations director for Phnom Penh-based Child Protection Unit (CPU).

“Both motos stopped, the offender, who is deaf and mute, in his way, had demanded money from the girls, to which they replied they didn’t have any money,” McCabe said. “He then became enraged and produced a metal weapon.”

Vy allegedly stabbed Lany five times and Phally 13 times with a rasp. Lany died on the scene, but Phally was able to call her family. Police arrested Vy about two hours later at 7:30pm, McCabe said.

Phally is in serious condition, and Vy will be transported to Tbong Khmum provincial police headquarters this morning, McCabe said.