Boy, who was 14 at the time, faces High Court proceedings after pleading not guilty to killing 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen at secondary school in Bandar Utama last October.
A teenage boy has gone on trial in Malaysia for the alleged murder of his female schoolmate, who was fatally stabbed in a school toilet in a case that has shocked the country and sparked debate over the influence of social media on young people.
The accused, who cannot be publicly identified because he was a minor at the time of the incident, was 14 years old when the attack occurred. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of 30 to 40 years in prison and caning, but not the death penalty, due to his age.
Malaysian Teen on Trial for Schoolmate’s Fatal Stabbing:
The trial opened at the High Court, with proceedings expected to run over several days in early August. The prosecution plans to call 11 witnesses, including three children aged between 13 and 17, whose evidence will be given under special safeguards provided by the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007. Defence lawyer Kitson Foong has said arrangements may include live television links if the young witnesses are uncomfortable testifying in person.
According to the charge, the boy is accused of murdering Form student Yap Shing Xuen, 16, in the girls’ toilet at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) in Bandar Utama, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, between 9:20am and 9:35am on 14 October 2025. Yap was found dead after suffering multiple stab wounds. Police recovered knives from the scene, including a combat-style knife and a karambit.
Case timeline and psychiatric assessment:
The boy was charged in the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court on 22 October 2025. No plea was recorded at that stage because murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court. He was later ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak. A report completed in January 2026 found him fit to stand trial and capable of understanding the proceedings and mounting a defence.
He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read again in the Shah Alam High Court in February 2026. Proceedings have been held behind closed doors, with only the teenager’s family permitted in court, in line with Malaysia’s Child Act 2001. The accused has been held at the Puncak Alam Correctional Centre, a juvenile facility, and continues to receive counselling and therapy.
The killing prompted widespread public concern in Malaysia. Police have previously indicated that social media may have influenced the boy, and reports of a note found on him at the time of his arrest have fuelled discussion about online content, including material linked to the manosphere and incel culture. The victim’s family has rejected claims of any prior romantic interaction between the two students.
The case has highlighted broader questions about school safety, mental health support for adolescents, and the impact of extreme online content on young people. The trial continues, with the prosecution expected to present its evidence in the opening phase.