NEWS STORY : Public Schoolboy Who Attempted Murder of Classmates and Teacher Named

STORY

A public schoolboy who carried out a terrifying hammer attack on two sleeping students and a teacher at a prestigious boarding school can today be named as Thomas Wei Huang. The 17-year-old from Malaysia was jailed for life last month after being found guilty of three counts of attempted murder at Blundell’s School in Devon last year. A High Court judge lifted an order today preventing his identification, allowing his name to be reported for the first time.

The court heard how Huang, who was 16 at the time of the attacks, entered the victims’ rooms armed with hammers he had purchased online. He struck his victims multiple times on the head while they slept, leaving them with serious injuries. One of the students suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. Huang, who had become obsessed with a fictional zombie apocalypse, claimed he was sleepwalking during the attacks and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. However, the jury rejected his defence and convicted him on all three counts.

During the trial, the court heard how Huang had developed a fascination with violence and had researched how to kill people effectively. He had also collected weapons and survival gear in preparation for a “zombie apocalypse.” Sentencing Huang to life with a minimum term of 12 years, Mrs Justice Cutts said: “You planned your offences and used hammers you had bought as weapons. You knew full well if you hit the boys multiple times with the hammers they would die. You are an intelligent boy and I am satisfied you knew the difference between right and wrong.”  

The judge added that Huang posed a “high level of danger to the public” and that experts were unable to say how long he would remain a risk.

The attack sent shockwaves through the Blundell’s School community, a historic institution with a long and distinguished history. In a statement released after the verdict, the school said it was “deeply saddened” by the events and expressed its support for the victims and their families. The case raises serious questions about the potential warning signs that may have been missed in Huang’s behaviour. It also highlights the need for greater awareness of mental health issues among young people and the importance of early intervention.