Man who heard voice telling him to kill someone & take his own life gets 5.5 years’ jail for Kallang Wave Mall stabbing
A man who heard a voice telling him to kill someone before taking his own life has been sentenced to 5.5 years’ jail for stabbing a woman at Kallang Wave Mall.
Chua Jing Yuan, 27, attacked a stranger with a kitchen knife in the early hours of 14 July 2025.
The victim, Choong Wen Ting, who was then 29, suffered wounds to her neck and chest but survived after undergoing surgery.
Source: Google Maps
On Monday (2 Nov), Chua was sentenced after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of attempted culpable homicide causing hurt.
Two other charges of possessing offensive weapons in public were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Chua was originally charged with attempted murder.
However, he was later assessed to be suffering from major depressive disorder with psychotic features, which significantly contributed to his offence by severely compromising his judgement.
Man planned attack after hearing voice telling him to kill
The court heard that Chua first sought treatment for anxiety at Jurong Polyclinic in May 2021, The Straits Times (ST) reported.
He was subsequently referred to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
His condition improved with treatment, but he stopped attending appointments after March 2023.
Source: Google Maps
Over the following two years, his mental state deteriorated. He began hearing a voice instructing him to kill someone before taking his own life.
On 13 July 2025, Chua decided to act on the instructions.
The voice also told him to dress entirely in black. He bought black clothing, shoes, a backpack, face masks and gloves, along with a bottle of bleach, a claw hammer and a kitchen knife.
He packed the items into his backpack and changed into his new clothes.
Chua also took a photo of where he had stored his belongings so his family could find them.
Chua wandered around Kallang Wave Mall looking for target
At about 12.30am on 14 July 2025, Chua arrived at Kallang Wave Mall.
He wore a black face mask and wandered around the mall for almost an hour, looking for a suitable target.
Source: Google Maps
Meanwhile, the victim was having drinks at a bar with her boyfriend and an acquaintance.
At about 1.20am, she left to use the restroom when Chua approached her and told her in Mandarin to “wait a moment”.
He then took out the kitchen knife and stabbed her in the chest, believing it was the quickest way to kill her, ST reported.
According to CNA, he also slashed her neck before fleeing the scene.
The woman fled to find her companions, who went looking for the attacker.
They spotted Chua trying to leave the mall and chased after him. He tripped and fell shortly after exiting, allowing them to restrain him.
During the struggle, the knife and bottle of bleach fell out of his backpack. The victim’s boyfriend also found a hammer in the bag and threw it away.
Other passers-by helped subdue Chua and called the police.
When officers arrived, Chua repeatedly demanded that they shoot him, saying, “I kill her so that you can shoot me”.
He also threatened to kill himself and began banging his head against the ground, CNA said.
Victim underwent surgery after suffering neck & chest wounds
She was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where she underwent surgery.
The woman suffered a 5cm stab wound on the right side of her chest, which cut into muscle, and a 6cm slash to her neck, ST reported.
The neck injury cut her external jugular vein, although no major nerve or vital blood vessel was injured.
A medical report stated that the neck injury could have been fatal if it had caused massive blood loss.
She was discharged the following day.
A medical review in August 2025 found that she had no significant disability.
Her medical expenses amounted to about S$2,500, which Chua paid for.
Source: SG Courts
Prosecution seeks 7 years’ jail, defence asks for not more than 3 years
A psychiatric assessment by a senior consultant at the Institute of Mental Health found that Chua was suffering from major depressive disorder with psychotic features, CNA reported.
The condition significantly contributed to his offending by severely compromising his judgement.
The psychiatrist also found that Chua was fit to plead in court and was not of unsound mind at the time of the offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) Grace Chua and Johan Tay sought seven years’ jail, citing the planning involved and the fact that Chua had targeted a stranger in a public place.
They argued the attack was deliberate.
“The attack was wholly senseless. Any member of the public could have been the accused’s target,” DPP Grace Chua said, adding that such attacks can cause significant public disquiet.
Defence counsel Choo Yean Lin asked for a jail term of no more than three years.
She highlighted that Chua’s mental condition had significantly contributed to the offence and that he was receiving treatment in prison.
She also said he hoped to pursue further education and support his parents in future, adding that he deserved a second chance.
In sentencing, Justice Pang Khang Chau agreed with the prosecution on the aggravating factors, including Chua’s planning and possession of more than one potentially lethal weapon.
However, the judge noted that Chua’s seemingly rational planning was based on what he described as “unreal facts” arising from his auditory hallucinations.
The judge also took into account the compensation Chua had paid towards the victim’s medical expenses.
For attempted culpable homicide causing hurt, Chua could have been jailed for up to 15 years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these punishments.
Where to seek mental health support
People experiencing mental health difficulties or concerned about someone can seek help through the following services:
- National mental health helpline: 1771
- Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
- Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019
If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
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20-year-old NSF found unconscious at foot of BMT School 3 building in Pulau Tekong, dies in hospital
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps and MS News.
