The Appeal Court heard on Monday, the case of a couple sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the murder of a woman in June 2016.

The couple identified as husband Loeng Sora, 45, and wife Chhom Nay, 33, was initially sentenced on May 21, last year, by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to 10 years imprisonment and ordered to pay 40 million riel ($10,000) compensation to the victim’s family.

They were charged with intentional violence with aggravated circumstances resulting in the death of the victim.

However, the suspects disputed the account of events initially provided in their conviction, and so appealed for the sentence to be reviewed.

“I really stabbed the victim. My husband did not attack the victim; I ask the court to punish only the one who attacked her. My husband did not attack the victim, I ask the court to release my husband,” Chhom Nay told the courtroom.

The murder occurred on June 6, 2016, in Sen Sok district’s Teuk Thla commune. Chhuon Chantha, 35, a rice vendor, was murdered after an argument that resulted from Nay pouring water over her produce.

Chantha reportedly told the suspect to leave her shop and an argument ensued, resulting in the victim being stabbed in her chest, dying on her way to the hospital.

The accused’s lawyer, who asked not to be named, told The Post that the killing occurred after the victim threw the suspect’s property into the street.

The suspect responded by violently attacking the victim, but the pair’s lawyer claimed the husband was not involved.

“I asked the court to drop the charges and free my client [the husband] and lower the wife’s sentence,” the lawyer said.

Appeal court prosecutor Khuth Sokheang said: “The court should reconsider the charges against the accused [Sora].

“The victim’s husband accused him of also stabbing her, but there is only one stab wound, so I ask the court to reconsider the case of the suspect’s husband,”

After the hearing, Judge Kim Dany said the verdict will be announced on December 27.