Autistic Teen Charged with Culpable Homicide of Mother, Ordered to Undergo Psychiatric Evaluation

KUALA KANGSAR: The Magistrate’s Court here today ordered an autistic teenager charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of his mother, who was also a person with an intellectual disability, last week to be sent to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta (HBUK) in Tanjung Rambutan for psychiatric evaluation.

Magistrate Azlin Zeti Zainal Abidin made the order under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code after the accused, a 15-year-old boy with autism and an intellectual disability, appeared unable to understand the charge read to him by the court interpreter.

During the proceedings, Azlin Zeti asked whether the accused understood the charge against him, followed by several basic questions, including whether he had eaten breakfast, what he had eaten and who had accompanied him to court. However, he was unable to answer some of the questions.

As a result, no plea was recorded.

According to the charge, the teenager is accused of committing an act that caused the death of his mother, Nor Ainon Omar, 49, at a house in Kampung Cheh, Kati, here, at 2.10pm on Sept 23.

The charge was framed under Section 304 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and a possible fine upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Mirza Zulaikha Mohd Fadzly, while the accused was unrepresented.

Nur Mirza did not offer bail and requested that the court set a new mention date within a month, after the teenager’s psychiatric report is obtained, as he also has a psychiatric record.

“As the court has been informed that the accused has a psychiatric record, I will not record any plea. The court orders that the accused be sent to HBUK,” Azlin Zeti said.

Newspapers reported last week that two family members — the husband and son of a woman with an intellectual disability who was found dead with stab wounds at her home in Kampung Cheh Hilir, Kati — were detained by police to assist in an investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

It is understood that the woman’s 44-year-old husband, whose seven-day remand ended yesterday and who was also present to accompany the accused during today’s proceedings, was released today and will be called as a prosecution witness.

Berita Harian