High Court acquits 15‑year‑old of Bandar Utama school murder, rules unsound mind

In a landmark ruling on September 14, the High Court acquitted a 15-year-old boy of the murder charge against a fellow secondary school student in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. Judge Adlin Abdul Majid ordered the teen to be admitted to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, for a period to be determined by the Sultan of Selangor. The teenager’s lawyer, Kitson Foong, declared that the court found his client to be of unsound mind during the incident.

According to Foong, the court accepted the testimony of Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, who confirmed the teenager’s severe and aggressive schizophrenia. The schizophrenia caused the defendant to lose his sense of self, believe he was a god, hear voices and instructions from someone. While the prosecution did not dispute this, the court determined that the insanity gave rise to legal insanity.

The teenager would commence treatment for the disorder, with recovery taking time. The judge reminded the minor that his actions led to a life lost and expressed gratitude for the second chance given to him. During the trial, the prosecution called 11 witnesses, while two defense witnesses, including the teenager, testified. Charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, the teenager avoided the death penalty due to Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001, which prohibits capital punishment for individuals under 18.

Instead, the court could order detention for a period approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Ruler, or Yang di-Pertua Negeri. Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz, and Ahmad Iqbal Azman represented the prosecution. The identity of the minor cannot be disclosed due to his minor status, and his photograph cannot be taken.

The trial was held in a closed court setting. The teenager pleaded not guilty on February 12, 2025, after the charges were read to him in Mandarin before Judge Adlin.