Singapore teen who fatally stabbed father had gaming addiction, sentenced to five years’ detention
- The boy was 14 when he attacked his father with a fruit knife following an argument about a lost laundry detergent scoop in December 2020
- Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a young child, he had also received counselling and therapy for gaming addiction disorder since 2018
A Singaporean teenager with a gaming addiction was sentenced to five years in detention on Monday for culpable homicide after stabbing his 49-year-old father in the neck.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 14 years old when he attacked his father with a fruit knife following an argument about a lost laundry detergent scoop at their home in the Loyang area on December 11, 2020.
Following the stabbing, the teen put the knife in a sink and locked himself in his room, only to re-emerge soon afterwards to apologise and try to staunch the bleeding, The Straits Times newspaper reported. The father lost consciousness and later died of his injuries.
“Addiction to gaming was his escape into fantasy,” defence lawyer Shashi Nathan was quoted as saying in court. “The reality is a constant daily reminder that he has destroyed his family.”
The boy, who turns 16 this year, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a young child, and also received counselling and therapy for gaming addiction since being diagnosed with that disorder in 2018.