Symptoms of mental illness began manifesting in the 15-year-old boy accused of stabbing his schoolmate to death last year, with the signs emerging during the Covid-19 pandemic, a psychiatric specialist told the Shah Alam High Court today.
The teenager is facing a murder trial over the Oct 14 incident at the girls’ toilet of SMK Bandar Utama (4).
The boy’s lawyer Kitson Foong said the defence team's second witness, Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, testified that the boy’s issues could also be an impact from unrestricted and uncontrolled use of social media.
Earlier today, Foong said the boy’s symptoms went untreated in the last five years.
“He was a normal boy before the Covid-19 pandemic (as ascertained) from Ian’s interviews (with him). That is a fact.
“(However) the symptoms manifested during and after the pandemic, and it was left untreated, leading to the incident on Oct 14,” said Foong, who briefed the media after today’s proceeding.
The proceeding before judge Adlin Abdul Majid was held behind closed doors, as the boy is a minor.
Foong added that Ian, who is also the Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta director, said the teen was known as “the boy who wears the face mask” among his teachers and schoolmates, to the point that they did not know what he looked like.
“He never takes off his face mask. It is normal to wear it during the pandemic. Ian testified that the boy’s teachers and schoolmates knew him by the nickname: the boy who never takes the face mask off.
“The boy continues wearing face masks post-Covid-19 and even covers his face when he talks to his family at home… until the day of the incident, when he took the face mask off,” Foong added.
The court began hearing the defence stage today after Adlin ordered the boy to enter his defence this morning.
The boy then chose to give an unsworn statement from the dock and apologised for the incident.
Under treatment
Foong later clarified that the boy was seated near the dock, not inside it, as he is an underage accused person.
He added that the boy was remorseful and meant every word he read, despite displaying little emotion because his medication was affecting his emotional responses.
The lawyer added that the court will resume the trial on Aug 26 and that Sept 3 has been scheduled for oral submissions.
“The case is proceeding fast, compared to other high-profile cases, because it involves a child.
“Every day he spent in detention at the Puncak Alam Correctional Centre causes him suffering as he cannot receive comprehensive medical treatment there,” Foong said, adding that the boy is under treatment for his mental condition.
The boy was charged at the Petaling Jaya Magistrates’ Court on Oct 22 last year, under Section 302 of the Penal Code with killing his 16-year-old schoolmate on Oct 14, between 9.20am and 9.35am.
However, no plea was recorded at that time, as murder cases fall under the High Court’s jurisdiction. The charge carries a death penalty, or a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 12 strokes of the cane.
He then pleaded not guilty when the case was brought before the Shah Alam High Court on Feb 12 this year.
The victim, Yap Shing Xuen, was fatally stabbed at the school’s girls’ toilet. She was laid to rest on Oct 20. - Mkini
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