The Charleston Gazette
By SOPHENG CHEANG
By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press Writer
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- A Cambodian court sentenced four former Khmer Rouge rebels each to up to 20 years in prison Tuesday for their involvement in the murder of a British mine-clearing expert 12 years ago.
The convictions and sentences came after an investigation of more than a decade into the killing of Christopher Howes, who worked for the Britain-based Mines Advisory Group, and his Cambodian interpreter, Houn Hourth.
Judge Iv Kim Sri convicted four defendants of premeditated murder and illegal confinement and acquitted a fifth on Tuesday. All had pleaded not guilty in the Phnom Penh court.
Howes' family and friends expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
"We never sought revenge but we're pleased the murderers of Christopher and Houn (Hourth) have been brought into account,'' said Howes' sister, Patricia Phillips, by telephone from her home in West Yorkshire, England.
"I don't think I ever thought I would see it happen,'' she said. "I feel quite emotional.''
In a statement distributed to reporters at the court, Phillips said she was sad that her mother, who died in 2007, did not live to see the verdict.
Khmer Rouge rebels abducted Howes and Houn Hourth, along with other Cambodian co-workers, in March 1996 while they were clearing mines near Angkor Wat, the 12th century temple complex in northwest Cambodia.
Three of the five defendants testified that two other Khmer Rouge guerrillas -- now believed dead -- were responsible for the murder of Howes and the interpreter. They said a commander named Khem Tem ordered another man called Rim to shoot Howes in the head while he was sitting on a mat eating fruit. The rebels then cremated Howes' body on a pile of wood doused in diesel. Howes was 37 years old at the time of his death.
The court heard that little was known about the killing of the interpreter, who got separated from Howes and was shot dead by a Khmer Rouge guerrilla in another remote village.
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