The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sent a slaughterhouse worker accused of brutally hacking his wife to death to Prey Sar prison for pre-trial detention.

The accused, Pe Vansak, 34, of Chroy Changvar district, was charged with intentionally killing his wife Toulash Meyan, 28, on Friday night at their home in Duemkor village, according to district deputy police chief Ek Sereyvuth.

“During questioning at the police station, the suspect did not say anything, even though his child accused him of killing his wife,” Sereyvuth said, adding the motive is unclear. He added Vansak’s 10-year-old son said his father hit his mother with an axe 18 times, then called for help, pretending he was not involved.