The Supreme Court on Monday heard the appeal of a convict who was sentenced to 25 years in prison over a 2013 robbery-murder case in Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district. Photo supplied
The Supreme Court on Monday heard the appeal of a convict who was sentenced to 25 years in prison over a 2013 robbery-murder case in Phnom Sruoch district’s Treng Trayoeng commune in Kampong Speu province.
This was the second appeal that the unidentified convict had requested since Kampong Speu Provincial Court on September 16, 2015 charged him with aggravated theft and handed down a 25-year jail term to the man in accordance with articles 353 and 360 of the Criminal Code.
Dissatisfied with the lower court’s ruling, the convict filed a notice to appeal. But on September 18 last year, the Appeal Court upheld the provincial court’s decision to put the man behind bars for 25 years.
On Monday’s hearing, the man maintained his innocence, saying: “I truly did not kill [the victim]. My face was smeared with [her] blood because I took her to the hospital. I ask the court to release me.”
A court document stated that on July 16, 2013, a group of people broke into the victim’s home after her husband left for work, assaulting her and ransacking every corner of the house for valuables.
Later on the same day, it added, police found Ty Sokhoeun, 36, had been stabbed multiple times with a sharp object in the head and body, after which the victim was rushed to the provincial referral hospital, but she died on the way.
The perpetrators fled the scene after committing the crime, it read.
The report said one of the victim’s daughters, Sim Sreyleak, 14, had told the authorities that a woman named Khorn Sophea beat up her mother and threw her against the bed.
Later on, police arrested a man “in connection with the murder” who was found with blood smeared all over his face, it further wrote.
On Monday, Prosecutor Chhoun Chantha concluded: “After reviewing the facts, even though the convict denied the crime, he did not have any evidence to back his claim.
“One of the victim’s daughters, who was also the witness at the hearing, claimed that she had seen the face of the convict at her house [when the crime took place]. Therefore, I ask the [Supreme] Court to uphold the Appeal Court’s ruling.”
Defence lawyer Sin Vanny said the victim’s daughter “mistakenly” accused his client. “I ask the court to drop the charges and release my client,” said Vanny.
Presiding Judge Khem Bun said the verdict would be announced on July 1.
