The only survivor from a brutal family massacre committed by a 47-year-old father on Monday died yesterday morning at his home in Kampong Cham, police confirmed yesterday.
Svay Sakhorn, 69, a Cambodia National Rescue Party commune councilor , suffered serious injuries in the attack by his son-in-law Eng Thy, who used a scythe to kill his 45-year-old wife, Chanthy Sopheany, daughter Thy Seanghy, 6, son Thy Seyha, 4, and mother-in-law Mao Yeang, 64.
Sakhorn was rushed to Phnom Penh’s Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital for treatment but taken back to the family’s home in Chamkar Leu district’s Speu commune after doctors said there was little they could do for his injuries, Speu police chief Heang Meng said.
“The family decided to send him back to Kampong Cham to make sure he died at his home, because they had no hope that he could survive because he suffered serious injuries above his left ear,” Meng said.
Lawmaker Long Ry, head of Kampong Cham’s provincial CNRP working group, said Sakhorn’s body would be cremated over the weekend. A funeral will be held for all the victims tomorrow, he said.
“Doctors at the hospital injected many bags of blood, but could not help him. He was in very serious condition and the family decided to send him home,” Ry said, adding the party would assist Sokhorn’s six children and pay for the service.
Thy, who fled after the murder in what police believe was a drunken rage, was found dead on Tuesday.
It’s believed he committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a truck.