A man was sentenced to life imprisonment in Phnom Penh yesterday for the brutal murder of his girlfriend in October.

At his hearing last month, Si Zamaro, a 20-year-old law student, told the court how he had brought his girlfriend, Hai Srey Touch, to Hang Meas Guesthouse in the capital’s Chamkarmorn district for sex and warned her not to meet other men.

When she told him that he was not her only partner, Si Zamaro reacted with shocking violence.

He slit Hai Srey Touch’s throat and stomach and stole $200, a mobile phone and her motorbike before fleeing to the home of friend Meas Ruos.

The sentence was handed down to Si Zamaro at the Phnom Penh municipal court where presiding judge Oeung Sieng also ruled that he should pay $20,000 compensation to the victim’s father.

The court also sentenced Meas Ruos in absentia to three years in jail for accepting stolen goods.

The victim’s father Hai Channy declined to comment after the sentencing, saying that he was too grief-stricken.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lieng Sarith at [email protected]