A man suspected of killing his wife in a jealous rage in Kandal province is at large following the murder on Sunday, officials said Monday.
Rith Chroeun, 58, is accused of slashing his wife Hing Roeung, 53, to death with a machete during an argument at their home in Khsach Kandal district at about 10:30 a.m., according to district police chief Men Sok Khoeun.
“During the argument, [the suspect] locked himself inside the bedroom while his wife yelled and hit the door with a wooden stick.
When Mr. Chroeun opened the door, he cut her twice in the face and neck with a 0.8-meter-long machete,” he said, adding that Hing Roeung was found dead at the scene.
Prek Ampil commune chief Chhem Meng said the suspect murdered his wife out of jealousy, as he believed she had been unfaithful to him.
“He had doubts about her after she came back from working as a farm laborer near the Thai-Cambodia border,” he said.
Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor for rights group Licadho, said the rights group had recorded 163 cases of domestic violence and eight related deaths in the 14 provinces and cities it monitors last year, compared to 181 cases and 14 deaths in 2013.
