A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempting to murder his mother in a bid to sever the family bond and secure personal freedom.
The boy, identified as Aye (real name withheld), was brought by relatives to Khor Hong police station in Hat Yai district where he surrendered to police yesterday.
He allegedly admitted stabbing his mother, 34, at their home in Khor Hong municipality around 3 am yesterday morning. Aye has been charged with attempted murder.
About two weeks ago, his mother returned from overseas where she worked and sent home some money to the boy. While his mother was away, the boy was living alone with his 70-year-old grandmother.
According to the local police, Aye said he wanted to get rid of his mother so he could be free to lead his life the way he wanted. He said he could not bear living up to his mother’s expectations.
Police said there was no fight and the stabbing was unprovoked. The mother had sustained severe injuries but was in a stable condition.
Although his mother was not the domineering type, the Aye said he felt under pressure from her expectations.
In the early hours of yesterday, he blind-folded and gagged his mother in her bedroom before knifing her multiple times. He told police he had set out to take her life.
Aye said he stopped and regained control of himself when his mother, who was lying in a pool of blood, told him to flee before the police arrived.
The boy said he ran away and realised how much his mother loved him. He then asked his relatives to take him to the station where he turned himself in.
Aye told police he was a loner who preferred to live in the confines of his room. He dropped out of school when he was in Mathayom 2 (eighth grade). He denied being addicted to online games.
The boy was given psychological counselling before being remanded in detention at the Juvenile and Family Court in Songkhla.
