Wednesday, 3 December 2014 - 13:18
Cambodian confesses to murder of Dutch woman, baby
Chea Phin has confessed to stabbing a Dutch woman and her 19 month old daughter to death in their home in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. He is the sole suspect in these murders which happened on April 27th. He had been released from prison two weeks before the murders and was homeless.
The 35 year old Phin told the court that he attacked Daphna Beerdsen (31) after she confronted him while he was stealing a bicycle from her home. Beerdsen shouted for help after she discovered the intruder. "She used a floor mop to beat me, then we beat each other and I stabbed her many times" with a screwdriver, Phin told the court. "When I stabbed her, I closed my eyes and did not know I stabbed a girl. I only heard her crying", he added, referring to the 19 month old Dana.
According to the police, Beerdsen was stabbed 6 times with the screwdriver. Dana suffered severe head trauma and stab wounds to her body, she died of her injuries on April 30th after being airlifted to Bangkok General Hospital.
Phin told the court that he did not specifically target Beerdsen's house. "I saw a house with the door open and it was quiet", Phin said. "I entered the house because I saw a bicycle I wanted to steal. If I had not seen a bicycle, I would not have entered", he added. "If she had not shouted, it would have been OK."
Phin was arrested on April 30th. He had the victim's handbag and some personal documents in his possession. According to Seng Singheng, the lawyer who represented the victims, the defense had sufficient evidence to convict Phin even without his confession, including foot and hand prints on the scene of the crime and a witness who saw him on Beerdsen's bicycle.
The court is scheduled to deliver the verdict on December 24th.
Daphna Beerdsen worked as a consultant with the United Nations. She and her daughter were home alone on the day of the murder. Her husband Joris Oele, who also works for the UN, was in Preah Sihanouk for work when the attacks occurred.
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