The trial continues. Is the case heading toward an acquittal ?

Former Takeo provincial governor in court over death of mistress
Kim Sarom | Publication date 21 June 2019 | 09:30 ICT
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court heard the case of former Takeo provincial governor Lay Vannak and his brother, former provincial deputy police chief Lay Narith, for the sixth time on Thursday, with the pair accused of being involved in the killing of Vannak’s mistress Chev Sovathana on January 26, 2016.

A medical expert who specialises in the examination of corpses told the court that marks on Sovathana’s body did not indicate murder...
[However]
A police officer said at the hearing: “I have no reason to change my previous report because I noticed that something was irregular at the crime scene.”

But Meas Ten, head of Takeo provincial police’s Technological Science Office, told the court he had examined Sovathana’s body on the night of the incident.

He said the victim had been holding the cable underneath her chin with one hand while still conscious, and another hand grasping hold of the window frame.

“So the victim’s hands were gripping which is characteristic of hanging,” Ten said.

Dr Nong Sovannroth, who works at a Phnom Penh hospital and has examined more than 300 corpses, said at the court hearing that he was not in a position to agree with either the Takeo provincial police nor the Ministry of Interior’s experts, because he did not see the body at the crime scene.

However, he said that in general, the marks on a corpse can indicate whether someone has been murdered or committed suicide.

Sovannroth said the presence of redness on the skin indicates that oxygen has rushed to the face and, when someone hangs themselves, their nose runs, saliva comes out of their mouth and their hands grip.

“About 80 per cent of dead bodies who have hanged themselves have a runny nose, and Chev Sovathana’s body had a runny nose."
“When a person is murdered, their fingertips and toes are almost purple, due to the lack of oxygen in the bloodstream,” he said.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... h-mistress

The guy is smiling and looking confident.

Score another one for Cambodian justice.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/6525016/

Apparently Khmer forensic investigators are more knowledgeable than western ones.

The trial is over. Verdict in one month.

Photo Swift News
Breaking: Murder trial of former governor Vannak concludes
22 July 2019 | 20:16 ICT
The murder trial of Lay Vannak and his ex-deputy police chief brother Narith involving the death of the former Takeo provincial governor's mistress wrapped up in the capital on Monday.

Vannak and Narith are accused of killing Chev Sovathana early last year, while Vannak's driver and the caretaker of his house are charged with covering up evidence.

The two men called on Phnom Penh Municipal Court to find them not guilty, claiming Sovathana committed suicide.

The verdict will be announced on August 22.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... -concludes

Verdict Postponed

Phnom Penh, Cambodia Breaking News: The verdict of the trial of the ex-Governor of Takeo was due to be announced on 22 August 2019. However the Trial Chamber President, Hour Mengse, said at the hearing yesterday, that due to the complexity of the case, there is a need for more time. The evidence must be examined and considered carefully before declaring the conviction. Therefore, the court is required to postpone the verdict indefinitely.

GUILTY !
September 2, 2019
Ex Takeo Governor Lay Vannak receives 13 years for murdering mistress

Disgraced Takeo provincial governor Lay Vannak was sentenced to 13 years in prison today after Phnom Penh Municipal Court found him guilty of killing his mistress and covering it up as a suicide.

Chev Sovathana, Mr Vannak’s mistress, was found dead at her home in Takeo province’s Daun Keo city in January 2018.

Mr Vannak was convicted along with his brother Lay Narith, who received 10 years in prison. Mr Narith, former chief of deputy police, was found guilty of also killing the victim and covering up the murder.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50639478/l ... -mistress/

I did not expect that!

rozzieoz wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:49 pm I did not expect that!

Me neither. I thought they'd spin the trial out forever.
So, what next ? Appeal or hospital ? Appeal THEN hospital ?

Presiding Judge Ham Mengse said the convicts have one month to file an appeal.
“The defendants can appeal if they are not satisfied with the verdict,” Judge Mengse said.

He must have pissed of iron man in a bad way. No way that kind of verdict could have happened.

Maybe there is a glimmer of hope for justice in the KOW.

holy shit, I'm shocked. HE doesn't seem to be joking about hitting the higher up's with a hammer if they break the law (for now)

UPDATE : Appeal before the Supreme Court tomorrow.
December 9, 2021
Former Takeo Governor to face Supreme Court
The former governor of Takeo is set to appear before the Supreme Court for the appeal of his sentence.

On the morning of December 10, the Supreme Court will be taking the case against former governor, Lay Vannak, to trial. Vannak and his brother, Lay Narith, the former deputy police chief of Takeo province, will both be facing an appeal hearing.

Both of them appealed to the Supreme Court, after the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s decision. Other defendants involved in the case have been already served their cases and were released.

Vannak and Narith appealed to the Supreme Court after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Court of Appeal sentenced Vannak to a 13-year sentence and Narith to a 10-year sentence.

Vannak was accused of killing his mistress, former CPP youth group member, Chev Sovathana. Vannak and his brother was charged with “intentional murder” and concealment of the evidence.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50985739/f ... eme-court/