One year for 'Facebook murder'

The killing occurred in January after the victim, named as Winsie in court documents, reportedly posted derogatory comments about a friend on Facebook. The friend, with the support of a third teenager, contacted the young man about killing Winsie.

He admitted to the killing during the trial.

"For this act, you've earned the harshest penalty," said judge Wendy Vierveijzer on Monday in an Arnhem courtroom.

Since the boy was only 14 when the murder occurred, a higher penalty was not possible under Dutch law.

Expert testimony said that the boy, who already had a police record before the killing, had behavior problems and psychopathic tendencies. In addition to the one year in detention, he faces up to three years in a psychiatric facility.

"You have social and psychological problems," said Vierveijzer. "You need to be treated for those."

In addition to the murder of Winsie, the boy was convicted of the attempted murder of her father. The killing took place at Winsie's home when the boy came to her front door and then started stabbing her when she opened it. He turned the knife on the girl's father when he came out to help.

Chun Nam Hau, Winsie's father, said he was disappointed with the verdict.

"I lost my daughter, and he gets a year in jail," he tearfully told reporters on Monday.

The two teenagers who are said to have contacted Winsie's murderer face charges as well, but no date has been set yet.

In the verdict handed down on Monday, the court said "the defendant did not know Winsie personally but he acted at the request of or on the instructions of another or others."

mz/pfd (AFP, Reuters, dpa)