Husband charged: Second-degree murder in death of Deang Huon

Sun, August 3, 2008
By RENATO GANDIA
SUN MEDIA
Edmonton Sun

City cops say they have charged the husband of Edmonton's 16th homicide victim of the year with second-degree murder.

The victim, 40-year-old Deang Huon, was found by police in the bedroom of an apartment suite at 10955 106 St. Wednesday after relatives asked authorities to check on her well-being.

It wasn't immediately known how long the woman had been dead when the cops found her.

The Cambodian couple has lived at The Kent apartment complex since 2000 and neighbours say the suspect and the victim are both well-liked by everyone.

Landlord Allan Thompson, who also lives in the building, was shocked over his tenant's death. He described the suspect as "peaceful" and the couple's relationship as "loving towards each other."

About half of the tenants in the building are also Cambodian and knew the couple well, he added, saying they're more confused than scared. Newer tenants, however, are unsettled.

"The tenants have been phoning me and the people who know Sok are mystified. They're not worried," he explained.

Thompson was renovating one of the building's suites when police arrived with a woman he identified as the couple's niece.

He opened the door for them, but didn't learn police had discovered a body until a man was taken into custody.

Police have not said how the victim died.

Narin Sok, 49, is slated to appear in court on Aug. 6.

[Cambodia] Woman [in Edmonton] was slain: cops

Husband of city's 16th homicide victim this year in police custody

Sat, August 2, 2008
By GLENN KAUTH, SUN MEDIA
Edmonton Sun

The death of a woman whose body was found in an apartment suite on Wednesday has been ruled a homicide, police said yesterday.

The victim is 40-year-old Deang Huon. Police found her dead in the bedroom of a suite at 10955 106 St. after a relative asked authorities to check on her well-being.

So far, police have yet to lay charges. But on Wednesday, they took Huon's husband into custody.

At the time police got to the Kent apartment on Wednesday, they found a man "who was acting a little delusional." They've since been trying to interview the man, who is Cambodian.

The case shocked the couple's landlord, Allan Thompson, who also lives in the building. He described the husband, whom he identified as Narin Sok, as "peaceful."

The pair had lived at the Kent building since 2000 and had a relationship that appeared to be "loving towards each other," said Thompson.

LANDLORD MYSTIFIED

"I know Narin very well. I'm befuddled and mystified."

Thompson was renovating one of the building's suites on Wednesday when police arrived with a woman he identified as the couple's niece. He opened the door for them but didn't learn police had discovered a body until they took a man into custody.

So far, police haven't said how Huon died, something they're not planning to do while they continue investigating the killing.

In the meantime, the case has unsettled tenants in the building, many of whom are also Cambodian and knew the couple well.

"My reaction is ... concern for Narin, sorrow for what happened to (his wife) and worry about what the tenants are going to think," Thompson said.

At the time police arrested Sok, he was acting strangely.

"We're not doctors by any means, but he didn't appear to be in the proper state of mind," said Det. Bill Clark at the scene earlier this week.

It wasn't clear how long Huon had been dead when police got to the building.

The case is Edmonton's 16th homicide of the year.