15 Years Too Lenient? Baby Killer Couple's Sentences Spark Debate

A Singaporean couple were sentenced on October 21 to more than 15 years' jail each over the fatal abuse of their eight-month-old son, Trevor Neo Yu Hin.

His mother, Chloe Gan Ci Xuan, 23, received 15 years and three months, while his father, Neo Jia Ming, 27, received 16 years.

The couple pleaded guilty on October 12 to offences including causing or allowing a child's death and child ill-treatment. Neo also admitted to domestic abuse against Gan.

Trevor had been repeatedly shaken, hit and smothered to stop him from crying, with the abuse beginning when he was just over a month old.

On the night of September 1, 2024, Gan smothered Trevor, hit his face and turned him face down on a mattress. Neo was in the same room playing a game on his phone and failed to protect Trevor.

Trevor was pronounced dead at KK Women's and Children's Hospital shortly after midnight on September 2. An autopsy could not establish a definitive cause of death.

In sentencing, Justice Hoo Sheau Peng said the couple had family support and a nanny, and must be held accountable despite their youth and parenting inexperience.

She noted that Neo had initiated the shaking and smothering, rejecting his argument that his responsibility was substantially lower because Gan committed the fatal acts.

The case follows other fatal child abuse cases in Singapore, including that of four-year-old Megan Khung, who died in February 2020 after prolonged abuse by her mother, Foo Li Ping, and Foo's boyfriend, Wong Shi Xiang.

In April 2025, Foo was sentenced to 19 years' jail, while Wong received 30 years' jail and 17 strokes of the cane.