A new suspect was identified yesterday on the final day of a hearing into the murder of a Chinese national who police allege was killed by her five housemates.

The suspects, also Chinese nationals, stand accused of stabbing Chen Huaying, 25, to death in the Por Sen Chey district house they shared with her last November. All five denied the charge.

Por Sen Chey deputy police chief Toch Phan told the court that at the crime scene defendant Yang Peipei had untidy hair, blood on her hand and had left bloody footprints leading from Huaying’s room.

But fingerprint tests on knives found at the scene did not match any of the suspects, police testified.

Chhay Vannak of CISS Security, which patrols the building’s area, told the court that guard Orn Sanghar, who was on duty at the time of the murder, had disappeared the day Huaying was killed “without providing a reason”.

Prosecutor Seu Vanny requested judge Ly Lipmeng order a reinvestigation of the case and arrest Sanghar. Defence attorney Hav Sina requested the court drop the case and return his clients’ passports. The verdict is due on August 16.