A man was placed in pre-trial detention on Monday after he was charged with murder by Kampong Cham provincial court for allegedly beating his wife to death.

Provincial court spokesman Chum Naran said the incident occurred in Chamkar Leu district’s Cheyou commune on Saturday, with the suspect arrested the same day.

“He was charged with murder,” Naran said on Monday.

Chan Hor, the deputy head of the provincial police’s serious crimes bureau, identified the accused as 35-year-old Chrech Dorn. The victim was named as 38-year-old Chorn Tha.

“The suspect beat his wife to death with a wooden stick. He has to be held responsible before the law,” Hor said.

Muong Morngdy, the Cheyou commune police chief, told The Post that the husband and wife were often drunk, which led to frequent arguments.

“There were cases of domestic violence, and the police had often warned the suspect about beating his wife, which happened many times before but was not as severe as this occasion,” he said.

Before the incident on Saturday, the couple were drunk and had a heated argument, a witness said.

Dorn grabbed a wooden stick and started beating his wife around the head and body, killing her inside the house.

After finding his wife dead, the suspect fled, but police were able to detain him a couple of hours later due to witness reports.

Cheyou commune police chief Morngdy said the victim had a child from a previous marriage.