A father who beat his two-year-old step daughter so badly that she later died of her injuries in Stung Meanchey II commune of the capital’s Meanchey district has been sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to 20 years in prison.

Municipal court spokesman Y Rin confirmed that Sok Ratha, 29, received his lengthy prison term on May 24, nearly two months following his March 28 hearing.

According to article 202 of the Criminal Code, the charge – murder with aggravating circumstances – shall be punished with a prison sentence of between 15 and 20 years.

The murder happened in June last year, after two-year-old Non Srey Nich hit the man on his head and stabbed him in the eyes. Ratha reacted angrily and knelt on her chest, beating her and causing serious injuries.

Later that day, the child felt unwell. The man then took her to stay at the home of her 66-year-old grandfather Mey Thol, who found her dead a day later.

The girl’s mother, Phon Sokhak, 27, filed a complaint at the Stung Meanchey II commune police station, leading to his arrest.