Supreme Court hears attempted murder case
THE Supreme Court on Monday heard a case against one of four men who was sentenced by the Siem Reap provincial court in 2006 to between 17 and 20 years behind bars on a charge of “attempted murder”.
During the trial, Ny Vuthy pleaded with the court to reverse the charge from attempted murder to stealing with aggravating circumstances.
“I have served 12 years in prison already. I appealed to the Supreme Court just to plead for a change of the charge from premeditated murder to stealing with aggravating circumstances,” Vuthy said.
Prosecutor Duch Kimsorn asked the court to uphold the prison terms.
“I have checked the complaint but did not see any new arguments. So I reject his plea,” he said.
Defence lawyer Suon Det said his client had admitted to hitting the victim but the assault had not led to death.
“After the provincial court handed a 20-year sentence, my client filed a complaint to the Appeal Court that subsequently changed the charge from premeditated murder to attempted murder under Article 3 of the criminal code.
“The court should change the charge from attempted murder to stealing with aggravating circumstances,” he said.
Presiding Judge Khem Pun said the verdict would be delivered on September 17.
According to the court’s record, Vuthy, 27, and his three accomplices used a steel pipe to hit Moy Sovannara’s head in an attempt to steal his motorbike on April 12, 2006.