School stabbing: Teen pleads not guilty to murdering 16-year-old

 

A teenager pleaded not guilty today at the High Court in Shah Alam to the charge of murdering a 16-year-old student at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, on Oct 14 last year.

The 15-year-old defendant entered the plea after the charge was read again before judge Adlin Abdul Majid in a closed proceeding, where only the parties involved and the teenager’s family were permitted, given that the case involves a juvenile offender.

Deputy public prosecutors Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Zamariah Zarifah Aris appeared for the prosecution.

Met by reporters later, the accused’s lawyer Kitson Foong said the court set March 6 for case management, at which the trial date is expected to be fixed, likely within two weeks in July 2026. The court also ruled that only the defence and prosecution teams would be allowed to attend the trial.

Additionally, the judge granted permission for two lawyers on watching briefs, one each from the Malaysian Bar Council and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), to be present in court throughout the proceedings.

On Jan 30, the prosecution obtained the consent of the Attorney-General’s Chambers pursuant to Section 177A of the Criminal Procedure Code to transfer the case from the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court to the Shah Alam High Court for trial, following a psychiatric evaluation confirming that the juvenile is fit to stand trial.

On Oct 22, 2025, the teenager was charged at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court with the murder of a schoolmate between 9.20 and 9.35 am on Oct 14, 2025. No plea was recorded, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty, or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, and up to 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.

However, Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 stipulates that the death penalty cannot be imposed on individuals under 18 years of age.

Instead, the court may order the juvenile to be detained for a period authorised by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the sultan, or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, as provided under Section 97(2) of the same Act.

- Bernama