Cambodian man kills five family members for rape intervention

By Robert Carmichael

Phnom Penh (dpa) – A Cambodian man killed five family members and

injured three others after they prevented him from raping his

16-year-old sister-in-law, local media reported Friday.

   The man, identified only as Nang, then hanged himself.

   Police said the crime, which took place on Thursday in

south-eastern Svay Rieng province near the border with Vietnam, was

among the worst the country had seen in years.

   Provincial police chief Prach Rim told the Phnom Penh Post

newspaper the victims were related to Nang.

   “The attacker had raped his sister-in-law twice before, and around

10 am he tried to rape her again, but was apparently stopped by his

family,” he said.

   “They then fought together, and the attacker locked the doors of

the house and stabbed his family members to death before hanging

himself,” Prach Rim said.

   Police said Nang murdered his wife, his 2-year-old son, his

mother-in-law and two of his sisters-in-law. His daughter and nephew

were injured, as was the sister-in-law he tried to rape.

   Last month a drunken soldier murdered three people and injured

four during a rampage in nearby Kampong Cham province after arguing

with his wife.

   The head of one prominent local human rights organization said he

was worried the issue of domestic violence is not being taken

seriously in parts of Cambodia.

   “It seems everyone sees this kind of violence as normal,” said

Thun Saray, the head of Adhoc.