A tycoon and his two sons were tried yesterday for allegedly conspiring to murder the businessman’s 30-year-old second wife and their 6-year-old daughter in August.

Kim Marintha, 57, a former two-star general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and owner of the GST Express bus company, was tried along with his son-in-law Chea Soksamnang, 36, and 37-year-old son Kim Senrith over the killing of Va Davy and her daughter, Kim Thavchida on February 15, 2014.

Their bodies were discovered by the roadside in Kampong Speu province days later, prompting a manhunt and raids on the tycoon’s businesses. Marintha was arrested in September after he was discovered living with a mistress in Thailand.

Presiding judge Heng Kesarar said Marintha “got angry with his young wife for having an affair with another man”.

“When his daughter came to try to help her mother, he . . . broke her neck and she died.”

Marintha admitted he had strangled Davy in a fit of rage but denied intending to kill her. A verdict in the case is expected on June 24.