she had scolded him for playing computer games into the early hours of
the morning, Thailand police has reported.
The boy allegedly stabbed his mother to death while she slept in her
bedroom, and seriously injured his sister who attempted to stop his
crime.
This took place in their Bangkok home at 2a.m after they had argued
about his late-night computer-game playing, Police Major Prayuth
Puengkaeha said.
The mother, Areeya Ketdi, 45, was stabbed about four times by her son
with a knife one-foot long. According to the initial investigation,
the youth was unhappy that his mother had not allowed him to play
computer games and scolded him for not helping with household chores.
Meanwhile, the boy's father and his cousins told police that he had
had autistic syndrome and been cured. However, he had a suppressed
personality and was always scolded by his mother.
He allegedly used to say he would want to kill his mother.
Authorities took the suspect to the Central Juvenile and Family Court
before sending him to another juvenile observation and protection
unit.
Public Health Ministry deputy permanent-secretary, Dr Apichai Mongkol
said the body releases dopamine hormones when a person is addicted to
games, in a similar fashion to being addicted to drugs.
Children at this age still lack emotional control, Dr Apichai said.
When denied what they are addicted to, they may lose control and hurt
others.