Police in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district are on the lookout for a woman who allegedly hacked her son to death on Sunday in Stung Meanchey III commune.

District police chief Meng Vimeandara identified the son as Chan Sokhom, 32.

“The offender can’t escape forever. We are hunting her down,” he said.

Commune police chief Em Pheary said Sokhom is survived by his wife Keo Sreyphoeurk and seven-year-old daughter Ra Dany. The family sells groceries in front of their home.

Citing their relatives and other witnesses, he said both Sokhom and his mother suffered from mental illness. Before the incident, neighbours heard them quarrelling while Sokhom wife slept outside the house.

While playing in the house, Sokhom’s daughter witnessed the murder but did not tell her mother until the suspect fled the scene.

“The woman is suspected of killing [Sokhom] because the young girl saw the incident with her own eyes,” he said.

Forensic pathologist Nong Sovanroth said on Monday that Sokhom sustained four cuts on the right side of the head and deep cuts on his face.

Inside the home, he said, police found a blood-stained axe apparently used to kill the victim.

“Our post-mortem examination proved that the victim died from slash wounds to the head. The axe’s blade matched the scars,” he said.