A man who failed to kill himself after slitting his wife’s throat on Wednesday in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district was rushed to hospital by police for emergency treatment.

Kakab I commune police went to a rented room in Kbal Damrei village at around 5am after being alerted by neighbours and discovered a woman lying dead in a pool of blood. A man was found seriously injured after stabbing himself, Kakab I commune police chief Pal Yutha told The Post on Wednesday.

“We suspect the killing resulted from an argument, with the husband becoming so angry that he slit his wife’s throat with a knife.

“After arriving at the scene following reports of an argument, police found the woman dead, while the man was seriously injured after stabbing himself. We rushed him to the Kossamak Referral Hospital for treatment,” Yutha said.

The 30-year-old husband and 42-year-old wife both originally hailed from Svay Rieng province’s Romeas Hek district, he said.

“The victim’s relatives travelled from Svay Rieng province to bring her body back for the funeral. As the husband is receiving treatment in hospital, police have not been able to question him,” Yutha said.

Speaking anonymously, a neighbour said she heard the couple arguing in their room at around 3am, with the wife shouting for help.

Three or four neighbours broke in to offer assistance at around 5am only to find the woman dead. The police were then called.

“I went to the scene at around 5am and saw a pool of blood in the room and the woman dead,” the neighbour said.

Neighbours had never heard the couple arguing before, she added.

“I don’t know why the couple got into an argument that night. When I heard her calling for help, I didn’t dare get involved as it was their quarrel. I am old, so I was afraid her husband might attack me too,” the neighbour said.