A rice farmer attacked three of his neighbors with an ax outside their home near Sihanoukville on Thursday night, killing a 31-year-old woman and injuring two others before being subdued by other villagers, officials said on Friday.
At about 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, the farmer, Phan Chandy, 30, approached a neighbor talking on his mobile phone, snatched the device from his hand and threw it to the ground, said Ke Sakhon, deputy police chief in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nop district.
The owner of the phone, Yorng Chhay, 36, slapped Mr. Chandy, who then retreated to his own home and returned with an ax, Mr. Sakhon said.
The farmer, who witnesses said was drunk, struck Mr. Chhay with the ax, then attacked his daughter Chhay Daline, 16, and sister-in-law Chhuon Sreyleak, who died of a neck wound, he said.
The father and daughter were transported to Phnom Penh for medical treatment, he added.
The suspect later confessed under questioning, according to deputy provincial police chief Kol Phally, and was set to be questioned again at the provincial court on Saturday.
The motive for the attack is unknown.
