“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.”

Japan’s growing elder abuse foretells what Singapore, Hong Kong may face

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.

His father would hit and verbally abuse him if he failed to complete his chores or homework assignments, the court heard, and he saw the older man as “highly controlling” for limiting his access to mobile phones and computer games.

The teen is reportedly the first person to be sentenced under a provision of the city state’s Children and Young Persons Act that allows detention to be imposed in cases that involve murder, culpable homicide, attempted murder or causing grievous hurt.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Shin Hui told the court that the authorities intend to continue detaining the boy at the Singapore Boy’s Home until he completes his O-level exams, before he is transferred to prison where he can attend prison school for further education.

‘Risk of violent reoffending is low’

A psychiatrist at Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health, who assessed the boy after his arrest, diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder and noted that he had obsessive compulsive traits, but considered him to be high functioning as he could complete his primary education in a mainstream school.

The doctor found that both conditions did not have causal or contributory links to the offence as he had sufficient maturity to judge the nature and consequences of his crime.

He assessed that the boy’s risk of violent reoffending is low.

Shashi Nathan, the defence lawyer, said the family had been very badly affected by the case. The younger brother even stopped speaking for some time out of shock, and the boy’s mother went through cancer surgery soon after the incident.

Tencent warns young gaming subscribers of playtime limits during winter holiday

“It was one tragedy after another,” Shashi said. “I think both sides recognised that this is an extremely tragic case – decimated the family.”

Shashi said that the boy has responded well to detention since his arrest. His mother and younger brother also now visit him every week.

“The last time I saw him in the Boy’s Home, his last words to me were: ‘Uncle Shashi, I miss my papa’,” he added

He added that he is now acting for the family pro-Bono after his mother depleted her savings.

Urging the court to be merciful and compassionate, Mr Shashi said: “The reality of the present case is that any punishment imposed on (him) will only further add to the pain and sorrow of the victim and the family members.”

In passing the sentence, Justice Aedit Abdullah said that rehabilitation was an important objective to consider given the boy’s young age and immaturity. The DPP had asked for five to seven years’ detention while Shashi had asked for three to five years.

A period shorter than five years, he said, would not allow sufficient rehabilitation and reform. But a sentence as long as seven years would mean that the boy would effectively be serving eight years in all when taking into consideration when he was first remanded.

“One has no doubt that a great burden of regret will remain on the accused and the surviving family members for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“But even amid that sadness, the law must still be vindicated by the courts, findings made and punishment imposed.”