crimeMonday, September 14, 20262 sources

Malaysian Teenager Yap Shing Xuen Acquitted of Murdering Schoolmate on Insanity Grounds

A 15-year-old Malaysian teenager was acquitted of murdering his 16-year-old schoolmate, Yap Shing Xuen, in October 2025, after the court ruled he was of unsound mind during the attack. The incident occurred in a school toilet in Selangor state. The verdict has sparked national debate over mental health and social media's role in youth violence.

The teenager, who was 15 at the time of the attack, was arrested at his high school in Selangor state on the same day he stabbed Yap Shing Xuen in the school’s toilet. The court found him not guilty due to his unsound mental state during the incident. The killing of Yap Shing Xuen, who was 16, shocked Malaysia and ignited discussions about the influence of social media on young people.

Sources

IndependentSouth China Morning PostSep 14, 01:12 PM
Malaysian teenager acquitted of killing schoolmate

A Malaysian teenager was on Monday found not guilty of murdering his 16-year-old schoolmate last year, after a high court ruled that he had been of unsound mind when he attacked the victim in their school, in a case that left the country reeling in shock and horror. The boy, who was 15 at the time of the attack last October, was arrested at his high school in Selangor state on the same morning that he had repeatedly stabbed Yap Shing Xuen in the school’s toilet. The victim, who was a year from...

PublicBBC WorldSep 14, 12:58 PM
Malaysian boy acquitted for murder of schoolgirl on grounds of insanity

The killing of the 16-year-old nearly a year ago had shocked Malaysia and sparked debate about social media.