A 28-year-old relative has confessed to drowning a pair of snail farmers in Prey Veng province in revenge for being compared to a dog and being called “cheap,” officials said on Tuesday.
Chhay Heng confessed on Sunday to killing Mean Yorn, 43, and his partner Kak Bunthan, 47, while they were picking snails in a rice field on Saturday, said Yim Bora, deputy police chief of major crimes in Kanh Chriech district.
Mr. Bora identified Mr. Heng as Kak Bunthan’s nephew-in-law.
Earlier reports said the victims had been stabbed multiple times in their heads and faces, but when asked to re-enact the murders, Mr. Heng described strangling and drowning them, village chief You Sok said.
Kanh Chriech commune police chief Bun Somoun said the murders were committed out of revenge after Kak Bunthan had insulted Mr. Heng, comparing him to a dog and calling him “cheap” after he had asked Mean Yorn to drink with him hours earlier.
Mr. Heng was to appear at the provincial court today.
