A father who filed intentional violence charges against his son for allegedly slashing him with a knife last August attempted to withdraw his complaint in court yesterday, only to be told it was too late.

During his testimony at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday, defendant Mann Sophea, 29, said his father, Meas Sophat, 55 – who was allegedly drunk at the time – had struck him on the hand with a metal rod for yelling at his sister.

Angered by this, Sophea – who had himself been drinking – grabbed a nearby knife and slashed Sophat on the head, neck and left hand, an account Sophat corroborated.

However, Sophat’s daughter, Loeum Vanny, 32, told the court that the family was poor, and its home life dysfunctional.

“Seeing that my father had a hard life, I bought a tuk-tuk for him so that he could earn a living. Still, he is always drunk.”

After listening to the testimony, Sophat had an apparent change of heart, asking the court with downcast eyes to withdraw the complaint.

However, prosecutor Um Sopheak said the complaint was valid and a verdict was due on February 1.