A man fatally stabs his brother and sister-in-law before hanging himself after a dispute over how to divide 25cm of inherited land

VIOLENT DISPUTES

Commune Police Chief Tak Noeun of Prey Kanlaong commune said, "We see several land disputes that lead to injuries, but our authority always takes action ...to intervene when people try to solve problems by themselves."

A DISPUTE over 25 centimetres of inherited land ended with a man fatally stabbing his brother and sister-in-law and then committing suicide. The murder-suicide occurred on Monday in Prey Kanlaong commune of Prey Veng province, where the Police Chief Tak Noeun is now working on the case.

"The man used a long knife to kill his sister-in-law and her husband and then committed suicide by hanging himself from the roof [rafters] the same day," Tak Noeun told the Post Wednesday.

Relatives ran to the local police office at 10:30am, after the 42-year-old Chev Thuy killed Njor Khen, his brother. When police arrived at the scene, Mon Samoeun, the sister-in-law, was dead from stab wounds and Chev Thuy had already hanged himself.

According to the police, before the  murder Chev Thuy had been arguing with his sister-in-law and brother about how to divide a piece of inherited land.   

"[Chev Thuy] complained to the local authority several times, but he did not accept any of the authority's resolutions," Tak Noeun said.

Sun Buntha, the rights group Adhoc's coordinator in Prey Veng province, said he would investigate the case to see whether any action from the local authority could have prevented the deaths.

"A land dispute over just 25 centimetres is a civil case and must be reconciled peacefully [with help from] the local authority, who must make enough effort to educate people to stop using violence," he said.

The deceased are survived by five children who are being cared for by relatives.