A young man died on the way to a hospital in Kompong Thom province on Saturday after his father repeatedly struck him with an ax on the head and face during a drunken dispute, police said on Sunday.
Phan Phat, deputy police chief in Kompong Svay district, where the dispute occurred, said Heng Koun, 47, attacked his son, Heng Hongkry, 24, after the two had been drinking with friends at separate locations and returned to their home in Kdei Daung commune in the early afternoon.
Mr. Phat said commune police arrested Mr. Koun while he was trying to flee the scene about an hour after the attack, which was witnessed by the village chief from a house about 300 meters away.
District police chief Khen Chhunkoi said Mr. Koun and his son were both heavy drinkers and often fought.
He said the son had kicked his father earlier in the evening, causing Mr. Koun to attack him after he had gone to sleep in a hammock under the house.
Mr. Chhunkoi said Mr. Koun, a single father with another son and two daughters, would be sent to the provincial court this morning.
