Malaysian boy acquitted for murder of schoolgirl on grounds of insanity

A Malaysian teenage boy has been acquitted of the murder of a schoolgirl after a judge found him legally insane at the time of the attack. The boy, whose identity is protected under Malaysian law because he remains a minor, fatally stabbed Yap Shing Xuen, a 16‑year‑old female student, in a toilet at their secondary school on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. He was 14 when the killing occurred. The case drew widespread shock across Malaysia and ignited a national debate about the influence of social media on children. Police had previously said they suspected social media could have played a role in the boy’s actions. The lawsuit was seen to have spurred authorities to limit children’s access to social media, a policy that began earlier this year. During the trial, defence lawyers did not dispute that the boy killed the girl, but argued that he had suffered from poor mental health for years and should be acquitted on grounds of insanity. A psychiatrist testifying for the defence said the boy had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had experienced delusions since the age of nine. His condition reportedly worsened during the COVID‑19 pandemic and after he returned to school. Lawyers added that he would require lifelong medication to manage his symptoms. On Monday the judge ruled that the boy would be acquitted, but ordered his detention and treatment at a psychiatric hospital. He will remain there until medical officials determine he is fit to re‑enter society, and he is expected to undergo annual reviews. Speaking to reporters after the verdict, a defence lawyer said the boy appeared “neutral in emotion, but he understands what is going on, [that] it's a very serious matter.” Both the trial proceedings and the verdict hearing were held in a closed court, barring the public and media from attendance.