Khmer Rouge tourist murder trial begins

The three Westerners were ambushed from a train

The trial of a former Khmer Rouge commander accused of overseeing the killing of three Western tourists has opened in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

Sam Bith, 69, is the most senior of three Khmer Rouge commanders charged with abducting the tourists after an attack on a train in southern Cambodia in 1994.

The backpackers, a Briton, a Frenchman and an Australian, were later executed and buried in the jungle, several weeks after ransom negotiations failed.

Sam Bith has denied the charges

The star witness for the defence is Nuon Chea, the former second in command of the Khmer Rouge and its most senior surviving leader, who made a rare public appearance by turning up in court on Thursday.

However the 77-year-old Nuon Chea only had time to confirm his name and age on the witness stand before the defendant complained of weakness.

A doctor called in to the court said Sam Bith was suffering from high blood pressure and the hearing was adjourned until Friday.

Defence

Sam Bith's lawyer, Ka Savuth, said Nuon Chea would testify that his client was not even in the area when the kidnappings occurred.

"Sam Bith was not involved in any of the attacks. The proof is that Pol Pot and Nuon Chea had ordered his transfer from the south-western zone in June 1994," - before the ambush in July, he said.

Sam Bith, who was arrested in May after eight years on the run, is charged with kidnapping, conspiring in premeditated murder, terrorism and robbery.

He is the most senior of three commanders charged with the abductions.

If convicted he could be sentenced to life in jail.

Train ambush

Australian David Wilson, Briton Mark Slater and Frenchman Jean-Michel Braquet, all aged in their late 20s, were abducted on 26 July, 1994, from a train travelling between the capital Phnom Penh and the southern city of Sihanoukville.

At least 10 Cambodians died in the attack on the train.

Khmer Rouge General, Nuon Paet, was jailed for life in June 1999 for his role in the case. The Supreme Court later turned down an appeal against his conviction.

Another officer, Colonel Chhouk Rin, was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment in September, but has vowed to appeal against the sentence.

During his trial, Nuon Paet said Sam Bith, who was his superior officer, had ordered the tourists killed.

Sam Bith was a powerful regional commander for the Khmer Rouge and former deputy to its military head Ta Mok.

Ta Mok is in jail pending trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during Pol Pot's 1975-79 "killing fields" regime.