The teenager’s premeditated actions and the brutal nature of the crime led to the Court of Appeal upholding his sentence.
On October 23, 2024, Singapore’s Court of Appeal upheld the 16-year jail sentence for a teenager who killed his schoolmate, Ethan Hun, with an axe at River Valley High School in 2021. The assailant, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, had originally faced a murder charge. However, this was reduced to culpable homicide after it was revealed he was suffering from major depressive disorder when he committed the crime.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the teenager’s appeal for a reduced sentence of eight to ten years. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack and the “cold and calculated approach” the teen used in planning the murder. The teen had researched the most efficient weapon for the attack months before the incident and even sought out online videos on how to carry out a killing. He then purchased a combat axe and sharpened it before luring his victim into the school toilet.
Despite the mental health issues cited by the defense, including the teenager’s consumption of snuff videos and his lack of seeking help for his depression, the court determined that the teen maintained significant rationality. His actions were described as meticulously planned, and psychiatric reports indicated he knew his actions were legally and morally wrong.
The case drew attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the young age of both the perpetrator and the victim, who was only 13 years old. The victim’s parents had requested the lifting of a gag order on their son’s name, allowing the public to know his identity. The teen, now 19, showed no emotion when the verdict was read and interacted with his family members after the session.
