BU School Murder Case: Teen Accused Expresses Remorse Over Victim’s Death

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The 15-year-old boy accused of murdering a 16-year-old student at a Bandar Utama school in October last year has expressed remorse over her death

"[The boy] read a brief statement in Mandarin and apologised for what had happened and for causing the death of the girl," the boy's lawyer, Kitson Foong, told reporters at the Shah Alam High Court today, 13 August.

The boy was ordered to enter his defence today following the six-day prosecution stage, during which 11 witnesses were called to testify, reported the New Straits Times.

During today's proceedings, the court heard psychiatric expert and Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta director Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony testify that the boy had experienced mental illness problems for five years without treatment.

According to him, the boy's mental state had progressively deteriorated over the years, during which he experienced multiple illusions.

Foong said the psychiatrist explained in court that a person experiencing mental illness has a 28-month window in which early treatment and medication can effectively help manage the condition and facilitate recovery.

"However, in this boy's case, the illness had gone untreated for about 60 months, which [Dr] Ian Lloyd said caused it to progressively worsen and become increasingly difficult to treat.

"He also said the boy had experienced multiple illusions. In the absence of treatment, the illness manifested and became increasingly severe, particularly in the mind of a boy who was 14 at the time of the alleged offence.

"[Dr] Ian Lloyd said the absence of treatment caused the boy's symptoms to manifest and become more severe," Foong said.

The court also heard that the boy was fit to stand trial following a three-month psychiatric assessment

Foong said the psychiatrist explained the scientific definitions of psychosis, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions in court, including examples of how they could manifest in a person's mind.

"He testified that all of these conditions were going through the boy's mind at the time of the alleged offence," said Foong.

However, the lawyer said it was too early to determine the boy's specific psychiatric condition as the trial was still ongoing and he remained under treatment.

Foong added that Dr Ian Lloyd was called as an expert witness to support the defence's reliance on the insanity defence under Section 84 of the Penal Code.

The provision states that: "Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is either wrong or contrary to law."

The boy is currently facing a murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code

The provision typically carries the death penalty or a prison sentence between 30 and 40 years, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

However, as he is a minor, the death penalty cannot be imposed on him.

The boy pleaded not guilty to the murder charge in February.

According to the charge sheet, he is accused of murdering his Form Four schoolmate in the girls' toilet at a Bandar Utama school between 9.20am and 9.35am on 14 October last year.

The trial is being held in camera in accordance with the Child Act 2001, as the case involves a minor, and reporters are not allowed to enter the courtroom.