Stabbed journalist wants to go back

Jane Nye

Phnom Penh-based New Zealand journalist Jane Nye is "devastated" by a vicious knife attack that killed her British boyfriend, but remains determined to return to the Cambodian capital where she almost lost her life.

Miss Nye's mother, Jan, yesterday told the Herald her daughter was devastated, but others had praised her bravery.

"She just couldn't stop thinking about it. [But] everyone said how brave she was, and how well she had organised everybody else ... during the chaos."

Miss Nye, formerly of Wellington, was staying with her boyfriend David Mitchell in an apartment behind his Ginger Monkey bar, in Phnom Penh, when burglars broke in on Wednesday morning (NZ time).

In an ensuing confrontation, Ms Nye suffered extensive wounds. Mr Mitchell died after being stabbed five times in the chest.

Tong Chen, an 18-year-old street kid, was arrested after being found in a city park cleaning blood off a knife.

Miss Nye was in a Bangkok hospital yesterday, preparing for surgery to close knife wounds in her face and neck received during the attack.

It is hoped the surgery will lessen the risk of scarring.

Jan - a relief worker based in Cambodia - hoped to return there tomorrow to care for her daughter.

She and husband Rob Joiner - a photographer and author - are on a visit to New Zealand.

Mr Joiner said anger was his first reaction on hearing what had happened to his stepdaughter.

"It's one of those things you think only happens to other people," he said.

"I am gutted. My immediate reaction was 'I have given them [Cambodians] three years of my life, and this is what we get back'."

Miss Nye had been managing editor of the English-language newspaper Cambodian Scene, a publication popular with the expatriate community.

She had been in the job about 18 months, and considered Phnom Penh an "exciting, vibrant place to live", Mr Joiner said.

She had known Mr Mitchell for a "long time", and his bar was a "high profile" establishment in an area of town with "quite a lot of nightlife".

The couple's attacker was likely an opportunistic thief, probably high on drugs, Mr Joiner said.

"[He was] probably someone who saw an opportunity to break in and hopefully get some cash for himself."

The family faces a hefty medical bill, as Miss Nye had no insurance to pay for her care, which included a one-hour emergency flight to Bangkok with a medical escort.

Miss Nye also faces the possibility of future plastic surgery, but any such work would be carried out in New Zealand, Mr Joiner said.

She is expected to be released from hospital at the weekend.