Four jailed for Cambodia murders

Mr Howes was killed after being kidnapped in 1996

Four ex-members of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge have been jailed for their part in the murder of a British mine-clearer and his interpreter.

Three were jailed for 20 years and a fourth for 10 years, while a fifth man was acquitted by the Phnom Penh court.

Christopher Howes, 37, of Backwell, North Somerset, and Houn Hourth were working in north-west Cambodia when they were abducted and killed in 1996.

Mr Howes' sister Patricia Phillips said the verdicts were an "enormous relief".

The trial is seen as a sign Khmer Rouge figures no longer enjoy immunity.

The Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia for four years in the late 1970s.

Senior figure

Forced from power by a Vietnamese invasion, the Maoist guerrillas continued to battle government troops from strongholds in the north-west for two decades.

We feel that justice has been done at last Patricia Phillips Howes' sister Charity worker was 'exceptional' Past catches up with Khmer Rouge killer

Mr Howes was leading a Mines Advisory Group operation near the city of Siem Reap when his team was abducted.

The kidnappers asked Mr Howes to return to his office to collect ransom money, but he refused to leave his team. Although more than 30 members of the team were released or escaped, Mr Howes and his interpreter were killed.

A team of British detectives said in May 1998 they had firm evidence the two were taken to the Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng and killed soon after the abduction.

Khmer Rouge members had been given amnesty under the deal which saw the organisation disband ten years ago.

One of those convicted is former senior Khmer Rouge commander Khem Nguon, who became a high-ranking officer in the Cambodian army after his defection.

Now he is a symbol that leading former Khmer Rouge figures are no longer immune from prosecution, the BBC's Guy De Launey reports from Phnom Penh.

The verdicts end a twelve-year wait for justice for the dead men's families

Ms Phillips, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said: "My father and I welcome the verdict, we feel that justice has been done at last.

"Although we have never sought revenge, we are very pleased the murderers have been brought to account," she said.

"We are enormously proud of Christopher. He didn't leave his team when he had the chance and that sort of action when he knew the danger he was facing took an enormous amount of courage."

Both men worked for the international charity Mines Advisory Group.

Chief Executive Lou McGrath said: "For over 12 years the families of our colleagues have been fighting for this verdict and we are all extremely satisfied with today's outcome.

"Hopefully now, the loved ones of Chris and Hourth can finally move on with her lives."