A 43-year-old woman was killed after being hacked with an axe by her drunken son-in-law on New Year’s Eve in Kam­pot province’s Chhouk district, police said yesterday.

Tuy Khoeun, deputy district police chief, said that Sak Vu­thy initially attempted to at­tack his wife with an axe after an argument.

 When her mother intervened, the sus­pect swung at her with the axe, striking her five times and killing her instantly.

The couple’s six-year-old son, who tried to defend his grand­mother, was critically injured in the ordeal.Authorities ap­prehended the suspect near his house, Tuy Khoeun said.

The district police chief added that Sak Vuthy frequently beat his wife and was “always drunk”.