30-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) A young man has been sentenced to six years in prison for the death of his father following a violent confrontation in their Yishun flat. The incident, which occurred on 10th October 2022, has brought to the forefront issues of domestic abuse, mental health, and the devastating consequences of family strife.
The High Court heard that Sylesnar Seah Jie Kai, then 19, fatally wounded his father, Eddie Seah, 47, after a heated exchange that began with verbal taunts and escalated into a deadly altercation. The elder Seah, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, had used derogatory language towards his son, including the Hokkien term “ah gua” (meaning transvestite), and challenged him to “chop someone with a knife”.
The situation took a tragic turn when Sylesnar, feeling humiliated and threatened, initially slashed his father once with a kitchen knife. After Eddie left the flat, Sylesnar, believing his own life to be in danger, armed himself with two knives and pursued his father to the lift lobby.
A violent struggle ensued, resulting in Eddie sustaining multiple slash wounds to his head and neck. Despite attempts to seek help from neighbours, Eddie collapsed and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sylesnar remained nearby, awaiting the arrival of authorities.
During the trial, it emerged that Sylesnar had been diagnosed with chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood and an “other specified depressive disorder” (OSDD), which mental health experts testified had impaired his judgment at the time of the incident. The defence argued that years of alleged verbal and physical abuse had contributed to the young man’s fragile mental state.
Justice Dedar Singh Gill, presiding over the case, took into account the defendant’s age, mental health condition, and early guilty plea when determining the sentence. He noted, however, that while the family’s troubled history was a mitigating factor, it did not justify the level of violence employed.
The prosecution had sought a sentence of seven to twelve years, emphasising the intentional nature of the violence. The defence, meanwhile, had requested a five-year sentence, arguing that their client had acted out of genuine fear for his life.
This case has sparked discussions about the complex interplay between domestic abuse, mental health, and criminal justice. Mental health advocates have called for increased support and intervention services for families experiencing similar difficulties.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as the sentence was handed down, with Sylesnar’s mother and siblings present. In a poignant moment, Sylesnar was granted a brief opportunity to speak with his family before being taken into custody.
