The Appeal Court on Thursday heard the case of 34-year-old Ros Sokhon, who is requesting a further reduction to his 15-year jail sentence which was recently reduced to 14 years.

Sokhon was convicted of committing murder in Thailand in 2007.

Appeal Court Judge and president of the trial chamber Kim Dany said Sokhon was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Banteay Meanchey provincial court in 2009.

Judge Dany said the Appeal Court reduced his sentence by one year because Sokhom had two young children and an ageing mother.

Sokhon said at the hearing that he had lived in Banteay Meanchey before migrating to Thailand for work in 2007.

One day that year, a quarrel between his relatives and another party led by a man named Sat Thy broke out.

Sokhon assisted his relative, Khuon Sokha and his wife, Phul Lina, but both were killed by the other group. He confessed to killing one person from the other party.

After the murder, three people from Thy’s side were arrested, but Thy escaped. Sokhon was arrested by provincial police in 2009 when he returned to Cambodia.

Sokhon said: “I filed an appeal as the Appeal Court earlier reduced my prison term by just one year. I have already served 10 years in jail. I would like the court to sentence me to just 10 years.”

Appeal Court prosecutor Chea Meth said at the hearing that the case was returned by the Supreme Court because it lacked clarity regarding Article 93 and 94 of the criminal code.

“Articles 93 and 94 state that if the minimum of the penalty for imprisonment imposed upon is equal to or more than 10 years, it is reduced by two years.

“Therefore, I ask that the trial chamber makes its decision according to the decision of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Sokhon’s defence lawyer Nou Chantha said his client had confessed and requested the court to reduce the sentence as requested.

Judge Dany said he will announce the court’s decision in early July.