The front page of today’s Straits Times carried the story of the double murders committed in Sydney 2003, by Singaporean then-undergraduate Tiwary, who murdered his Singaporean housemate, Tay Chow Lyang, and later, another housemate, Tony Tan Poh Chuan, to remove the threat of him being an eye-witness. The apparent reason for the murder? A dispute over flat rent amounting to A$5045 (S$6097).

When I read the article, I felt chilled. How could anyone murder another person, much less two persons, and appear in court calm and confident? How could anyone murder another person over money?

After committing the murders, Tiwary called the police and paramedics, and then awaited their arrival outside his flat.

Tiwary was sentenced to a life behind bars yesterday. For committing such heinous crimes, I think he should be sentenced to more than just that.

In the article, it also said that his parents are going to appeal for him. His father spoke to ST for the first time, saying: “As far as I’m concered, my son is innocent.”

What I’m wondering here is:

How can parents love their children so much as to be blind to their acts of brutal murder? Yes, I can understand the argument that parents should stand by their children in such times, but please, listen. He committed a double murder!

How much love is enough?

Will parents who keep giving in to their children and allowing them to do as they wish, turn out young adults with mindsets that they can get away with anything?

Two years after the murder, but I’m sure the parents of Tay and Tan, whom Tiwary bludgeoned and stabbed to death, are still missing their sons. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have such a misfortune befall upon my family and future children. I just hope and pray that our lives will be nothing like this. My condolences to the families of the victims.