DECEMBER 17: Police arrested Ou Thanny, 39, after he stabbed two people with a knife during a midnight argument at a dance in Sralao village, Kampong Thom province. Provincial Criminal Police Office Chief Rom Sovichea said Thanny stabbed Thok Yon, 20, and Men Khan, 23, when he was drunk on palm wine. But police said Thanny was trying to defend himself while Yon and Khan were hitting him after he stepped on Khan's foot.

DECEMBER 18: A fisherman, Chhun Chhay, 46, was shot dead while sleeping with his wife in a cottage where he fished every night in Boeng Chhoukvan village, Kampong Thom province. Chean Poeu, 39, told police that an unknown man opened her mosquito net and shot her husband in the chest with a handgun then ran away. Police suspect revenge was the motive because people had recently been unhappy with him as he was a sorcerer.

DECEMBER 18: A couple found the body of their eight-year-old son floating in a pond behind their house in Svay Kravan village, Kampong Speu province. Police who inspected the body said the boy was murdered elsewhere and his body, with a severe neck injury, had been dumped in the pond the previous day.

DECEMBER 19: Prum Visal, 25, was sentenced in Phnom Penh court to 18 years in jail for murdering a four-month-old baby while trying to rape its mother. Presiding judge Nhean Sovan said Visal was arrested after the crimes six months earlier in Svay Pak commune on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Sovan said the baby boy was stabbed in the stomach with a knife and later died in a hospital.

DECEMBER 19: Phan Phean, 10, and his brother, Phan Nguon, 7, were murdered by their father during a family argument at midnight in Thnoat Thmey village, Steung Treng province. A neighbor said So Phan, 30, who was drunk, cut his sons' heads off then hanged himself.

DECEMBER 20: Korean national, Kim Jae Myun, 52, committed suicide in the morning at a guest house in Boeng Salang commune, Phnom Penh. A woman who stayed at the guest house told police Kim hanged himself because he owed money to his friend and believed his situation hopeless.

DECEMBER 20: Police found the body of an air-conditioning repairman, Heng Vichit, 26, in a suitcase down a gully at Pich Nil in Treng Trayoeng village, Kampong Speu province. Police said Vichit, who had been missing for two days from his house in Teuk Laak commune, Phnom Penh, was strangled elsewhere and his body dumped there. They said Vichit's killer stole his motorbike and $700 in cash.

DECEMBER 21: Eleven gunmen escaped after killing Chim Sarth, 46, and his father-in-law, Neat Sokha, 54, during a robbery at 8:10 pm in Cheng Meng village, Dangkor district, Phnom Penh. Sokha's widow, Buot Boeun, 47, told police the robbers, who wore military uniforms, entered her house and shot dead Sarth then killed Sokha with an AK-47 while trying to drive away. The robbers stole two motorbikes and $1,000 in cash, then kidnapped three people but released them after police arrived and began shooting.

DECEMBER 21: Mom Nauy, 30, was taken to a provincial hospital for treatment after being chopped with a heavy knife at 5:30pm while working at a rubber plantation field in Serey Sokha village, Kampong Cham province. Khuon Aun told police that a worker, who was identified as Peak, ran away after the assault. The woman said Peak was probably angry because her husband recently sided with another worker during an argument.

DECEMBER 22: A monk, Kim Thoun, 28, was taken to a provincial hospital after cutting his testicles off at a pagoda where he stayed in Prey Chhor district, Kampong Cham province. A pagoda chief said Thoun probably had a mental problem.

DECEMBER 22: Police arrested Saul Sopheak, 23, after he wounded Ping Kha, 24, while dancing at a wedding party in Sat Porng village, Kampot province. Police said Sopheak shot once into the ground to threaten Kong Vanny, 24, who had argued with him, but the bullet went through Kha's thigh as he danced.

DECEMBER 24: A military police officer, Soung Narth, was sent to Calmette Hospital for surgery after he was shot in the chest with a handgun at 3:40pm at a recreation site in Koh Dach village, Kandal province. A friend reported to police that the gun fired while another friend was giving it to Narth while they were eating and drinking beer.

DECEMBER 24: Chan Sim, 28, was arrested after killing a neighbor, Kin Ann, 34, who had attempted to rape his wife in Trapaing Ampil village, Kampong Chhnang province. Police said Ann was shot in the back with a crossbow and died while trying to escape about 150 meters from Sim's house.

DECEMBER 25: Kem Samoeun, 27, died instantly after crashing a motorbike into the back of a small parked truck about 10pm on Street 271 in Thnoat Chrum village, Mean Chey district, Phnom Penh. A passerby said Samoeun had been speeding.

DECEMBER 26: A policeman, Chan Rom, 34, was struck by a truck and died instantly in downtown Sihanoukville. A bystander said the truck struck him from behind then ran over his body as he was riding a motorbike to the municipal police to be promoted to company sergeant-major. Police confiscated the truck, which belonged to ML company, but the driver ran away.

DECEMBER 26: Three gunmen shot Kong Phinara, 25, as they tried to steal his mobile phone while he rode his motorbike at 4:50pm in Tuol Tompoung 2 commune, Phnom Penh. A bystander said the three robbers, disguised as students, aimed a handgun at Phinara then shot him in the stomach as he threw his phone away. Phinara was taken to Calmette Hospital for surgery.

- Translated from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmei Kampuchea by Aun Pheap