M'sian, 17, studying in UK attacks sleeping students & teacher with hammer he got for 'zombie apocalypse'

A Malaysian teen studying in the UK was handed a life sentence after he attacked two sleeping students and a teacher at his boarding school with a hammer.

Thomas Wei Huang, 17, had collected the weapons in anticipation of a "zombie apocalypse", the court heard.

He previously claimed he was sleepwalking and could not be held criminally responsible.

While a gag order was initially imposed due to his age, a judge later lifted it, according to The Guardian.

The attack

Huang, who reportedly hails from a wealthy family in Malaysia, attended Blundell's school in Devon as a boarding student.

Yearly fees for boarders amount to over £40,000 (S$68,552), The Guardian reported.

In the early hours of Jun. 9, 2024, Huang attacked two of his roommates with claw hammers.

One of his roommates was a Hongkonger, according to the South China Morning Post.

Huang also attacked the housemaster, Henry Roffe-Silvester, when he woke up and tried to intervene. "It was a bloodbath," one student said.

One of the boys suffered from serious head injuries and damage to the ribs, lungs, and spleen, while the second suffered multiple skull fractures.

The teacher suffered six blows to the head.

When emergency services arrived, Huang told another pupil he had been "dreaming".

He later told the court that he had been "sleepwalking". His lawyer added that he was a "sleep-deprived super wreck", under pressure because of exams.

However, the prosecution argued that he had carried out the attacks in a "killing rage", and had researched murder methods prior to the attack.

He also searched for information about whether young people could be sent to jail, and if serial killers were respected in prison.

While giving evidence, Huang told the jury that he had wanted to come to England to study at a boarding school.

"I was excited to be doing it," he said, adding that he had been happy at school.

Zombie apocalypse

Asked about his weapons, Huang said that he slept with two hammers: one under his pillow, and another on the side of his bed where he stored snacks.

He explained to the court that they were "for protection" against "the zombie apocalypse".

Describing zombies as "vicious creatures", the teen, who had been 16 at the time of the attack, said that he believed in the apocalypse and had previously seen depictions of zombies in TV shows and films.

He had told his friends about his beliefs, but believed they thought he was joking, he added.

Since the attack, Huang has been diagnosed as autistic.

Scared and anxious

While giving evidence, Huang said that he felt "scared and anxious" during the arrest.

He said he had only been in a police station in Malaysia previously, when his father was accused of speeding.

The teen added that he had not attempted to murder any of his victims and said he felt "terribly sorry" towards them.

On Oct. 18, 2024, after an eight-week trial, Huang was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison, with the chance to apply for parole after a minimum term of 12 years.

The judge also lifted the initially-imposed gag order, allowing his identity to be published.

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