A military police officer who accidentally shot and killed a 6-year-old girl during a party in April told the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday that he helped transport the child to the hospital after the incident and turned himself into his superiors.
On trial for unintentional murder, Lim Lay, a second lieutenant in the municipal military police force, was on Monday quizzed by Presiding Judge Chhe Virak about the events leading up to the death of Him Vannany on April 17.
“Do you know why you were charged with this crime?” Judge Virak asked.
“I was careless and made my gun go off,” the defendant responded, explaining that he and his wife had been at a Khmer New Year party at another couple’s house in Pur Senchey district when the accident occurred.
Mr. Lay said his standard-issue K-54 pistol dropped from his waistband when he announced that he wanted to leave early and the host’s wife—Him Vannany’s mother—grabbed his shirt to stop him from arguing with his wife over the decision.
He said that when his pistol hit the ground, a round burst from the gun and into the girl’s chest.
“Was your gun loaded in advance?” Judge Virak asked Mr. Lay.
“I loaded it the previous night when I was dealing with a burglar and I never unloaded it,” Mr. Lay said.
After Mr. Lay finished speaking, a clerk read out a statement from Him Vannany’s mother, Kong Maneth, in which she said the military police officer had been arguing with his wife at the party and threatened her with the pistol before intentionally shooting it inside the house, killing the girl.
Deputy prosecutor Ngin Pech told the court that Mr. Lay’s testimony did not match that of witnesses to the accident.
“I ask the judge to consider the stubbornness of the accused, who will not admit the existing facts,” he said.
Judge Virak said the court would issue a verdict on September 23.
