M’sian student in UK gets life sentence after attacking roommates with hammer, claims he was preparing for ‘zombie apocalypse’

M’sian student receives life sentence in UK after using hammer to attack roommates

A 17-year-old Malaysian student studying in the UK was sentenced to life imprisonment after attacking two roommates and a housemaster with a hammer.

On the early morning of 9 June 2023, Thomas Wei Huang assaulted his two roommates, aged 15 and 16, as well as male teacher Mr Henry Roffe-Silvester using a hammer at Blundell’s School in Tiverton, Devon, as reported by BBC.

The attack resulted in skull fractures and internal injuries to the two roommates, with one suffering permanent brain damage.

The housemaster suffered six wounds on his head but recovered afterwards.

Cites sleepwalking & protection from ‘zombie apocalypse’

Exeter Crown Court heard that Huang, who was 16 at the time, had possessed three claw hammers and used those for the attack. He reportedly waited for the other two roommates to fall asleep before executing his attack.

Both were left with life-changing injuries, including damage to their ribs, spleen, a punctured lung, and internal bleeding.

Mr Silvester, who was 38 years old at the time, was also attacked after he went to investigate the noise, suffering six blows to his head.

During the trial, Huang denied three counts of attempted murder. His attorney, Kerim Fuad KC, argued that Huang had no intention of carrying out the attacks.

He claimed that Huang may have been sleepwalking when the attack occurred.

Mr Fuad further stated that the teenager had “an unhealthy interest” in violence and violent films and was coping with considerable stress from his school exams and personal life.

The court also heard from other pupils that the teen said he had prepared the hammers used in the attack for a “zombie apocalypse” after watching a horror movie.

Detained for life with minimum sentence of 12 years

On 18 Oct, the court ruled that Huang was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and sentenced him to life in prison.

It’s reported that the court rejected his sleepwalking defence.

“You knew the difference between right and wrong and you intended to kill those boys,” Judge Mrs Justice Cutts said during sentencing.

Huang is detained for life to serve a minimum term of 12 years, after which he may be eligible for parole.

Also read: M’sian student convicted of murder in UK after stuffing newborn baby in cereal box

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Featured image adapted from BBC and Google Maps.