[River Valley High] When the school is the site of a murder
Update as of 24 February 2023
A teenager who was originally accused of murdering a 13-year-old boy at River Valley High School in July 2021 has had his charge amended to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
He reportedly caused the death of a 13-year-old boy inside a toilet on the fourth floor of Block D in River Valley High School.
The accused was 16 when he allegedly slashed the head, neck and body of the victim with an axe measuring 50cm by 22cm between 11.16am and 11.44am on Jul 19, 2021.
He did so with the intention of causing the boy's death.
To the victim’s family, we extend our deepest condolences to a young and bright life lost to a sudden act of violence. His hope and dreams extinguished. Today, we mourn as a nation, and we grieve together with his parents.
The family members of the accused, a Secondary 4 student, are probably now trying to come to terms with the facts of the tragedy, and why their kin would perpetrate such an act of violence on another young life in such a brutal manner.
They would be confused, devastated, and deeply sorry. A deep sense of guilt, anger and incomprehension is bound to engulf them as we speak and comment on this incident. They may never know why.
No one wants to see such a tragic event happening in our schools. No one, not even the parents of the accused. So please be kind with your words.
According to news reports, both teenagers are not known to each other. This makes the whole tragedy even more confounding.
Why? why did he do it? In the end, no one explanation will do. Two lives have now been irrevocably changed, and a school will never be the same again.
Today, they need our love and our support. Lend a hand. Lend a listening ear. Be there.
Singapore and Singaporeans stand with the students, staff, teachers and parents of River Valley High School.
As more details of this incident are made known, our nation grieves the lives and bright futures lost through this senseless act of violence.
To say that we can come to terms with this tragedy is an understatement. Too many lives are involved, too many lives have been changed.
Today is a sad day for all educators and parents in Singapore.
Today, the whole nation mourns.
Incomprehensible. Simply incomprehensible.
Postscript: Tonight, before you tuck your precious child to sleep, don’t forget to let them know that Papa and Mama love them.
For two families in Singapore, their precious little one is not coming home, ever again, and Singapore is poorer by this tragic fact.
