Authorities Sunday were holding a Battambang province man on suspicion in the beating death of his daughter-in-law.
Battambang provincial police were pursuing murder charges against the man for the choking death of Ya Yat, 23, of Anlong Vil commune, according to Battambang Serious Crime police Chief Le Tal. He said authorities were planning to ask the courts to detain the man while they continue the investigation.
Neighbors found Ya Yat’s nude body Jan 8 not far from her home, Le Tal said. She had been beaten with an ax and chocked with a wire. Authorities also believe she had been raped, Le Tal said.
Ya Yat’s husband had been out of town for 15 days on a fishing expedition, and the father-in-law, who has denied involvement in her death, said Ya Yat was playing cards with her friends late Jan 7 and asked him to look after her child, Le Tal said.
The suspect has insisted Ya Yat ran off with a lover sometime that night and early last Monday, and that man must have killed her, Le Tal said.
Police recovered a cigarette lighter and a hand ax, stained with blood, not far from Ya Yat’s body. The suspect has admitted both items belonged to him, Le Tal said.
Neighbors have told police the suspect had a bloody nose on the evening of Ya Yat’s death, Le Tal said. Police believe the man received the injury while struggling with his daughter-in-law.
