TODAYonline

What happened at their home?

Boy dead, mother arrested for murder after being found with slashed wrists

Ansley Ng
ansley@mediacorp.com.sg

THE last time Jack (not his real name) saw his good friend of seven years was along a busy corridor in school, in between classes on Thursday.

Jack said hello to Tan Eu Jin, 13, whom he had known from their primary school days. But the latter did not reply — rare for a boy his peers at St Gabriel's Secondary School described as cheerful.

"I found it strange. He was someone who would smile even if he was feeling down," said the diminutive Jack, also 13, his eyes brimming with tears.

Half a day later, at about 2.45am on Friday, Eu Jin was found unconscious on a mattress in a bedroom he shared with his mother at their home in Toa Payoh Lorong 2.

His 36-year-old mother, who was also in the room, had slash marks on her wrists.

Eu Jin, whose parents are believed to be divorced, was rushed to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital where he died at 3.25am.

The police have arrested his mother, who is now in an undisclosed hospital, for murder. She is expected to be charged on Saturday.

According to Shin Min Daily News, detectives seized at least five kinds of prescription drugs from the 11th floor apartment early on Friday morning.

Eu Jin, an only child, lived in this executive apartment unit with his mother and his maternal grandparents, who were believed to have sounded the alarm.

The flat was empty when reporters visited it on Friday afternoon.

The living room lights were still on and the shoe rack outside was filled with many pairs of sports sneakers and trendy high-heeled shoes.

Later, a man in his 60s led several officers from the Criminal Investigation Department back to the flat. The officers then left with several items from the apartment.

Other relatives later showed up at the apartment, some in tears. They declined to be interviewed.

Neighbours described Eu Jin's family as friendly, although they kept mostly to themselves.

By all accounts, Eu Jin, a Normal stream student, led a typical teenager's life.

According to schoolmates and neighbours, the bespectacled boy enjoyed playing basketball and soccer, trading Yugioh comic cards and in-line skating under the MRT tracks at Ang Mo Kio MRT station.

One 13-year-old schoolmate told Today he had made plans a day before the tragedy to go skating with Eu Jin.

"Now he is gone and we will never go 'blading' together again," the boy said.

The principal of St Gabriel, Mr Marcel Lee, said Eu Jin was an active member of the National Police Cadet Corps group.

"He was a good boy, well liked by his peers. The form teacher is very saddened by the news," Mr Lee told 938Live.