A man was arrested in Prey Veng province late on Tuesday evening after allegedly murdering his father and seriously injuring his mother in a brutal attack following a family dispute, according to police.

Yem Sarim, deputy chief of Kanh Chriech district police, said 45-year-old Horn Hoeun launched the attack on his parents after an argument over his drinking habits and laziness, which they said had stopped him from helping them with farm work.

Hoeun then used a kitchen pestle to repeatedly beat his mother, Bu Neath, 66, and father, That Thorn, 67, according to Sarim.

“The suspect was arrested after he hit his father in the face several times with the pestle and broke the victim’s jaw causing him to convulse and die immediately,” he said.

“The mother was seriously injured – she got head and forehead injuries and a broken left hand.” Police arrested Hoeun immediately after the attack, which happened at about 11:15pm on Tuesday.

Sarim said Hoeun was being held yesterday at the Prey Veng provincial police station, having been charged by police with “murdering his father and committing violence against his elderly mother”.