KUALA LUMPUR – The perpetrator behind the murder of 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin could have been mentally compromised at the time of the offence although not necessarily grappling with long-term mental health issues, according to a psychological health expert.
Speaking to Scoop, psychiatrist Dr G.S. Grewal said behaviours associated with the killing can be caused by a variety of factors, including substance abuse.
Highlighting that commanding voices, manifested as hallucinations, are a characteristic feature of psychotic states, the medical practitioner pointed out that similar manifestations can be observed in certain types of epilepsy and head injuries.
Additionally, the expert emphasised that specific substances have the potential to induce a psychotic state.
“Another important psychotic state is one that is induced by the use of illicit drugs such as methamphetamines, heroin, cannabis and alcohol, to name a few,” he said.
“Some people react badly to these substances, and when in a psychotic or intoxicated state, can misinterpret their surroundings and circumstances, and combined with impaired judgment, may carry out such acts (like killing).”
With the absence of apparent motives behind the murder, Dr Grewal suggested the possibility of a deranged culprit.
“Being in a psychotic state, due to illnesses such as schizophrenia and severe bipolar disorder, could be a possibility,” Dr Grewal said.
“The perpetrator may be suffering from severe delusions, whereby a person holds onto a strong belief despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. An example of this may be paranoid delusions, in which the victim may be wrongly perceived as a threat and danger to the perpetrator.”
At the same time, Dr Grewal also said that people suffering from antisocial personality disorder may be involved in seemingly motiveless murders. The rare disorder is characterised by a persistent failure to conform to social norms and the law, as well as pathological deceit and lies.
“They are frequently impulsive, reckless and aggressive, with a failure to plan ahead. Typically, they are chronically irresponsible and have a total disregard for their own safety and that of others,” he said.
“Most striking, though, is that they have a complete lack of remorse for their actions and can come across as cold-blooded.”
Dr Grewal also asserted that negative connotations commonly linked with mental health struggles are emphasised by sensationalised media reports on criminal cases involving mental health patients.
“The proportion of serious crimes, like murder, committed by people with mental illness is very low. However, as the media frequently plays it up, it contributes to the notion that mental illness is synonymous with danger and aggression, which in turn fuels the stigma of mental illness.”
“This needs to stop. Without a doubt, the general population commits more crimes,” he added.
Zayn Rayyan’s body was discovered by a riverbank near Damansara Damai’s Idaman Apartments, where he stayed with his parents and younger brother, a day after he was reported missing on December 5.
While his death was initially ruled an instance of sudden death, police later reclassified the case as murder after an autopsy found injuries on the child’s neck and defensive wounds on his body.
Police have since said that based on evidence collected thus far, authorities believe that only one individual was involved in the child’s murder. – December 17, 2023