River Valley High School teen who killed schoolmate with axe: Appeal against 16 years’ jail dismissed

The appeal to lower the 16 years’ jail sentence for the teenager, who killed his schoolmate in River Valley High School with an axe in 2021, was dismissed on Oct. 23.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal for a jail term of between eight and 10 years, and upheld the sentence of 16 years’ jail, The Straits Times reported.

While the teen's lawyers argued that the High Court judge should give more weight to his mental disorder, the court of three judges noted that the teen was logical and knew the wrongfulness of his actions, but he had refused to seek help.

They said there was no reason why the sentencing principle of retribution should not prevail in this case, CNA reported.

What happened

Between March and April in 2021, the teen bought a combat axe and other weapons.

He slashed Ethan Hun, 13, repeatedly on Jul. 19, 2021, in the toilet.

The two schoolmates did not know each other.

What happened in the aftermath of killing

The assailant, who turns 19 this year, had initially faced a murder charge, but it was reduced to a culpable homicide charge.

This was after he was found to be suffering from major depressive disorder at the time of the killing.

He committed the crime when he was 16 years old, which prevents him from being named as he was a juvenile at the time.

He had pleaded guilty to the reduced charge on Dec. 1, 2023.

The High Court handed out the 16 years’ jail sentence.

The prosecution had sought 12 to 16 years' jail, while the defence had asked for five years.

The appeal

At his Jul. 1 appeal, the teen's lawyer argued that the High Court judge had failed to give sufficient weight to the teen’s mental disorder, ST reported.

His culpability needed to be calibrated in the context of his depression, and when he formed his irrational plan to slash people in the school and for the police to shoot him to death, his lawyer said.

The lawyer added that the teen was also exposed to snuff videos showing actual graphic scenes of human death before he carried out his act and that 16 years imprisonment was crushing on the young offender, CNA additionally reported.

The deputy public prosecutor argued that the teen bore significant responsibility for watching snuff videos when his rationality was not affected and did not seek help for his condition.

It was also argued that he would not have had suicidal thoughts had he refrained from watching such videos.

The teen has since fully recovered from his depression, and the condition has been in remission since September 2022, the lawyer added.

A gag order on the victim’s name was lifted by the High Court at the request of Ethan’s parents, who have forgiven the assailant and wanted Ethan to be remembered for his kind heart and peace-loving nature.

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