Mon, 26 Jul 2010
By Melissa Davies
One of Pol Pot's right hand men in the Khmer Rouge has been sentenced to 35 years in a landmark case brought by the War Crimes Tribunal.
Around 1.7 million people were brutally tortured and killed under the communist regime in the late 1970s.
A New Zealander, Kerry Hamill, was among the victims and his brother, former Olympian Rob Hamill, was in Cambodia for the sentencing.
Kang Guek Eav, known as comrade Duch, leaned in as the judge described his murderous crimes in graphic detail - stories of how he tortured people by pulling out their toenails.
Duch confessed to being personally responsible for the deaths of more than 12,000 people.
That includes 28-year-old Kerry Hamill - a New Zealand sailor captured in Cambodian waters in 1978. His brother Rob Hamill was among the hundreds at court in Pnomh Penh.
“[I’m] very hopeful for a good outcome. Our family obviously have (sic) a stake in it but for Cambodia this is obviously a huge deal for the millions that suffered,” he said before the verdict.
Inside the Hamill’s got a special mention from the judge who read out some of the names of Duch's victims.
Duch was impassive as he stood to learn his fate.
Former New Zealand Governor General dame Silvia Cartwright is one of five judges who found him guilty of grave crimes against humanity and sentenced him to 35 years jail.
Duch will, however, only serve 30 because the court ruled he had already been held illegally for five years.
Rob Hamill says the sentence is not long enough.
“It will never be closure, you can't bring back the past but it is the end of the chapter I think, obviously for our family having this man brought to justice.”
Rob Hamill has requested a face-to-face meeting with Duch to question him about the last days of Kerry Hamill’s life and to find out where his brother is buried.
Having spoken to Duch's lawyers after sentencing, Rob Hamill says he is reasonably optimistic that meeting may happen.
3 News
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