1-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) An 18-year-old pleaded guilty on Friday (Dec 1) to the killing of his schoolmate within the premises of River Valley High School.
The disturbing incident, which occurred on July 19, 2021, saw the young offender confessing to slashing the head, neck, and body of a 13-year-old boy inside a school toilet. Tragically, the younger boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
During Friday’s court hearing, the gag order on the victim’s identity was lifted at the request of his parents, revealing his name as Ethan Hun Zhe Kai, according to reports from CNA. Notably, police investigations indicated that the two individuals did not have any prior acquaintance.
Details emerged during the proceedings, shedding light on the offender’s motive. It was disclosed that the assailant had selected his victim “entirely at random,” intending to carry out a plan that would culminate in his own demise as the police intervened in what was described as a life-threatening situation. Additionally, it was revealed that the teenager had exposed himself to online content desensitizing him to the gravity of taking a life.
Initially charged with murder, the teen’s legal status was later downgraded to culpable homicide not amounting to murder following an assessment by the Institute of Mental Health, which determined that he was suffering from clinical depression at the time of the offence.
In light of the unprecedented nature of the case, the prosecution is pushing for a jail term ranging from 12 to 16 years for the teen. Conversely, the defence is advocating for a five-year imprisonment.
Individuals convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder can face a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail, fines, caning, or any combination of these penalties.
Due to the suspect’s age of 16 at the time of the offence, legal provisions under the Children and Youth Act prohibit the disclosure of his identity. The courtroom remains gripped with the gravity of the situation as the case unfolds.
