Petaling Jaya:The teenage boy acquitted of murdering a female student at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, was diagnosed with very early-onset schizophrenia, which began at age nine and went untreated for five years.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, High Court Judge Adlin Abdul Majid, in his judgment following the boy's acquittal on September 14, highlighted that the untreated schizophrenia was central to the teenager's condition during the incident. At 14 years and two months old, he had not undergone a psychiatric assessment despite his school's concerns and periods of counseling.

The judge emphasized that exposure to violent media was not a choice but a symptom of his illness. The prosecution failed to prove the teenager knew his actions were wrong due to his delusional state. Evidence showed he did not perceive the female student as a person, but as a "non-player character" in a fictional world, acting under the influence of hallucinations.

Symptoms of the teenager's psychotic illness, such as delusional thinking and hallucinations, were mistaken for behavioral issues. Judge Adlin expressed hope that the case would raise awareness about early mental illness detection in children to prevent similar tragedies.

The court ordered the teenager to be placed at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, with the duration subject to the approval of the Sultan of Selangor. He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which prescribes severe penalties, but the Child Act 2001 prohibits the death penalty for minors.