FATAL SCHOOL STABBING: 14-YEAR-OLD BOY CHARGED WITH MURDER OF FEMALE SCHOOLMATE

PETALING JAYA, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- A 14-year-old boy has been charged at the Magistrates' Court here today with the murder of a 16-year-old girl, who was fatally stabbed at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, last week.

No plea was recorded from the teenager, as the offence of murder falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The boy is accused of killing the victim in a female student's toilet at a secondary school in Bandar Utama between 9.20 am and 9.35 am on Oct 14.

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He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

The in camera proceedings were conducted before Magistrate Amira Sariaty Zainal, with only the teenager's family permitted in the courtroom, as the case involves a juvenile.

Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin appeared for the prosecution, while the teenager was represented by counsel Anwar Ezzad Zainal.

The court set Nov 21 for the case mention.

Earlier, the accused arrived at the court at approximately 8.50 am in a police van.

In the Oct 14 incident, the female student was found dead in a school toilet. Authorities suspect she was repeatedly stabbed by the teenage boy, who attended the same school.

According to Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar, a preliminary post-mortem report from the University Malaya Medical Centre established the cause of death as multiple stab wounds to the victim's chest and neck.

During the closed-door proceedings, the court also ordered the boy to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Tanjung Rambutan, Perak.

The court granted the order after lawyer Kitson Foong, acting as amicus curiae (friend of the court), applied for the teenager to be assessed by medical specialists.

Speaking to the media after the proceedings, Kitson, who is assisting the boy's legal counsel, said the application was made pursuant to Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He explained that the application was filed to ensure the teenager receives appropriate treatment and care.

"The psychiatric assessment is also necessary to determine his fitness to plead and his capacity to understand the charge brought against him," he added.  

-- BERNAMA