Court case involving 14-year-old accused of murdering father adjourned till Jan 6
A 14-year-old boy who allegedly murdered his 49-year-old father is being held in remand at the Singapore Boys' Home.
SINGAPORE — A court case involving a 14-year-old boy who allegedly murdered his 49-year-old father in a Loyang condominium has been adjourned until next Wednesday (Jan 6) to allow more time for police investigations.
The boy’s lawyer, Mr Shashi Nathan, told TODAY on Thursday (Dec 31) that the boy appeared in the Youth Courts earlier in the day. He did so via video link from the Singapore Boys’ Home, where he is being held in remand.
The boy was charged with murder on Dec 11 after the police were summoned to a residential unit along Flora Road in Loyang that morning. He cannot be named because the Children and Young Persons Act protects the identities of those under 18.
The alleged murder happened at Edelweiss Park condominium.
Upon arrival, police officers found the man injured and motionless. He was taken unconscious to Changi General Hospital, where he later died.
Mr Nathan said that the police prosecution on Thursday applied for the case to be adjourned until Jan 6 next year, so that they have more time to investigate the case.
The Institute of Mental Health completed a psychiatric assessment of the boy last week, he added.
The media does not have access to the Youth Courts.
Mr Nathan, who is assisted by lawyers Jeremy Pereira and J Jayaletchmi from law firm Withers KhattarWong, said that the boy’s mother and paternal uncle were present in court on Thursday.
Murder, punishable under Section 302(1) of the Penal Code, typically carries the death penalty in Singapore. But offenders below 18 must be sentenced to life imprisonment instead, based on the Criminal Procedure Code.
