July 2: A man died from loss of blood after his head was almost detached by a long-handled knife wielded by a neighboring farmer in an attack linked to a dispute over property boundaries. Police said Ra Vichhay, 22, was struck twice on the back of the head and once on the shoulder by Din Sim, 48, who they said has gone into hiding. Police said the attack occurred at 6:30am, about four kilometers west of Rang Knay village, Tum Ring commune, in Kampong Thom province.

July 3: Two Cambodians suffered fatal injuries after unidentified assailants opened fire on them soon after they crossed into Thailand at Poipet, said the deputy chief of the border checkpoint, Lo Mithona. He said a six-year-old boy, Chea Phal, and a 25-year-old man, In Am, died after assailants armed with AK-47s opened fire on a group of about 12 Cambodian jobseekers about one kilometer inside Thailand.

July 4: A student aged 15 has been arrested for the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in a coconut plantation at Monorom village, Prey Nup district, Sihanoukville municipality.  District police chief Sam On said the naked body of Phnon Sorya was found the day after she was reported missing by her parents, who are farmers. The military police chief of security office 401 at the plantation, Kim Thon, said Khun Pich was arrested at 9:20am and had confessed to raping the girl and then by holding her head under water until she drowned.

July 4: A woman died after being hacked eight times by a neighbor who accused her father of performing black magic, police said. Kep city police chief Has Sitha said Peth Suos, 44, a fisherman, had been arrested over the killing, which occurred at 7:45am in Kep village, Kep district. He said the victim, Chak Van, 20, was looking for her chickens on land owned by Peth Suos when the incident occurred. Chak Van tried to flee but was pursued and caught by Peth Suos, who chopped at her till she died. He was arrested when Chak Van’s father led police to the scene of the crime.

July 4: Two young children raised the alarm with neighbors after finding their mother’s naked body in the hut where they had been sleeping to watch over a rice field for its owner. Police said the hut was about 200 meters from the nearest house in Odon Pov village, Bavel district, Battambang province. They named the victim as Lay Kim, 34, and said the discovery of her body had caused alarm in the village because it showed signs of torture.

July 6: A dispute among relatives over burials on farm land in Kampong Chhnang province has cost a man his life. Lon Chak, 43, died from ax wounds to his head and neck after being attacked by his uncle, An Lonh, 48, on his farm at Prey Kry Cheuong village, Chol Kiri district. Police said Lonh had confessed to the murder, telling them it stemmed from long-running dispute over the burial against his wishes of two of Chak’s relatives on his land. Chak was killed after taking the body of a third relative to bury on Lonh’s land.

July 7: Military police in O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, have arrested four suspects in connection with the apparent contract killing of a woman in Kbal Spean village. The district’s deputy military police commander, Men Phirom, said Lang Ip, 64, had died after being chopped on the left temple by two men on a motorbike at about 7pm on July 1. Phirom said the suspects, who were arrested in Belalay village, O’Chrov district, at 4pm on July 7, included the woman’s daughter, Ly Chandy, 43, who had admitted instigating the crime to inherit her mother’s property. The other suspects were named as Phy Charith, 20, and Aup Piseth, who were riding the motorbike, and Chan Sam Ath, 43, who was paid 50,000 baht by Ly Chandy to arrange the killing, police said.

July 7: A 64-year-old man was killed by his hoe-wielding 82-year-old neighbor after they argued over a temporary rainwater drain, in Kandal village, Batheay district, Kampong Cham province. Batheay district police chief Im Yon said Kim Him, 64, was digging the drain to make rainwater flow away from the front of his house when 82-year-old Eung Chin objected that it was causing erosion outside his residence. Kim Him continued digging and Eung Chin hit him on the head with a hoe, breaking his skull. Kim Him died later in hospital.