A man who allegedly fled to Cambodia following the death of a young man 17 years ago was arrested by police at the airport upon his return to Australia.
Detectives from Victoria’s homicide unit and South Australia’s Major Crime Investigation Division arrested Kim Long Rim, 36, at Melbourne Airport on Saturday for the murder of 21-year-old Thea Kheav, the December 1, 2007.
He had just landed after flying from Bangkok and was extradited to Adelaide that same night.
Kheav was fatally stabbed at an 18th birthday party in Parafield Gardens, in Adelaide’s north, following an altercation between his brother and another group.
That group initially left the party but allegedly returned and attacked the 21-year-old.
Thea Kheav (pictured) died from blood loss after suffering more than 30 injuries at a party in 2007.
Three other men, Chansyna Duong, Tuan Kiet David Huynh and Rotha Sem, were convicted of Kheav’s death and sentenced to life in prison without parole for terms of 20 years.
His subsequent appeals to the High Court were dismissed.
South Australian police later revealed that a fourth suspect was identified in their investigation, but alleged that he had fled to Cambodia four weeks after Kheav’s murder.
Rim was arrested by Cambodian police in 2008, but Cambodia’s Supreme Court rejected his extradition to Australia.
He was released after spending three months in custody.
Victorian homicide detectives and South Australian Major Crime Investigation Division detectives arrested Kim Long Rim (centre) in connection with the death of Mr Kheav.
South African police allege that Rim was part of the group that attacked Mr Kheav on December 1, 2007 (pictured, crime scene).
Rim, who previously lived in Salisbury North, was arrested about 7.30am at Melbourne Airport on Saturday.
Two detectives escorted Rim through Adelaide airport 13 hours later.
Rim had little to say to waiting journalists, but reportedly said “no” when asked if he had killed Mr Kheav.
Rim will spend a second night at Adelaide City Watch House on a warrant for murder.
He will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
During a 2011 trial, the jury heard that the group had “comprehensively” beaten Mr Kheav with wooden blocks, kicked and punched him, and probably slashed his face with a machete.
He died from blood loss after suffering more than 30 wounds.
The fatal blow damaged Mr Kheav’s liver, diaphragm, left lung and heart.