SINGAPORE: The father originally accused of the murder of his twin sons in Upper Bukit Timah is expected to plead guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Xavier Yap Jung Houn, 49, appeared in court for a mention on Tuesday (Apr 18).
He was previously charged with murdering 11-year-old Yap Kai Shern Aston and Yap E Chern Ethan by strangling them at a covered canal near a playground in Greenridge Crescent on Jan 21, 2022. Both reportedly had special needs.
Xavier Yap’s charges were then reduced to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, with the intention of causing the boys’ deaths.
On Tuesday, Yap’s defence lawyer Peter Nai told the court that his client intends to plead guilty.
Yap is also represented by lawyers Choo Si Sen, Choo Yean Lin and Muhammad Razeen Sayed Majunoon.
His case will be transferred to the High Court, where it will undergo a pre-trial conference on May 26.
In an earlier hearing, the court heard that Yap had been remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric assessment. He was found to be suffering from major depressive disorder of moderate severity, around the time of the offences.
Culpable homicide not amounting to murder carries penalties of life imprisonment and caning, or up to 20 years’ jail and a fine or caning.
If the act was carried out without any intention to cause death, an offender can be given up to 15 years’ jail, a fine, caning or any combination of these punishments.