PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Two Cambodians who human rights groups say were framed for the 2003 murder of a prominent union leader called on the King on Friday to quash their conviction after the surprise postponement of their appeal hearing.
"I beg King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen to help free me. I am not a killer," 36-year-old Born Samnang said, before bursting into tears in the court.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) all say he and Sok Samoeun, 24, were set up for the killing of union leader Chea Vichea.
The pair were sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2005, despite rights groups pointing out a lack of evidence and glaring holes in the prosecution's arguments.
Chea Vichea, head of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was shot dead at a news stand in the heart of the capital.
According to documents seen by Reuters, Va Sothy, the owner of the news stand, has submitted written testimony saying neither of the two men was there at the time of the shooting. She is now thought to be living abroad for her own safety.
The appeal hearing before a courtroom packed with national and international human rights observers was delayed when one of the three judges in charge failed to turn up.
As he was led away in handcuffs, Sok Samoeun said he had been framed by former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov, who was sentenced in absentia last month to 18 years in jail for the 2003 murder of a judge.
Sacked as the capital's top policeman in June, the one-legged Heng Pov fled to Singapore in July but is now reported to be in custody in Malaysia pending a deportation request.
At the time of their trial, both defendants said they had been tortured by police into giving false confessions.
"I beg King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen to help free me. I am not a killer," 36-year-old Born Samnang said, before bursting into tears in the court.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) all say he and Sok Samoeun, 24, were set up for the killing of union leader Chea Vichea.
The pair were sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2005, despite rights groups pointing out a lack of evidence and glaring holes in the prosecution's arguments.
Chea Vichea, head of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was shot dead at a news stand in the heart of the capital.
According to documents seen by Reuters, Va Sothy, the owner of the news stand, has submitted written testimony saying neither of the two men was there at the time of the shooting. She is now thought to be living abroad for her own safety.
The appeal hearing before a courtroom packed with national and international human rights observers was delayed when one of the three judges in charge failed to turn up.
As he was led away in handcuffs, Sok Samoeun said he had been framed by former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov, who was sentenced in absentia last month to 18 years in jail for the 2003 murder of a judge.
Sacked as the capital's top policeman in June, the one-legged Heng Pov fled to Singapore in July but is now reported to be in custody in Malaysia pending a deportation request.
At the time of their trial, both defendants said they had been tortured by police into giving false confessions.
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