Judge breaks down in tears in case of stabbing murder of 16-year-old Pasawm Lyhym

A judge broke down in court as he told a 19-year-old man of his fate over the stabbing murder of another teenager at a station in Melbourne.

Pasawm Lyhym was stabbed in the back twice with a 35-centimetre blade after a fight between two groups of teenagers broke out in May 2023.

The 16-year-old, who was unarmed and had been running for his life, died at a bus stop in Sunshine during school pick-up time.

His killer, a 17-year-old boy at the time, had fled the scene but handed himself over to police just 12 days later.

The now 19-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, today learned that he will be sentenced to 13 years behind bars with a non-parole period of eight years.

Judge Michael Croucher said the man had “excellent prospects of rehabilitation” but noted the “tragic consequences” of knife crime.

“No good can come from carrying weapons like these. It just has to stop,” he said.

Lyhym’s family were in the courtroom and shed tears as their victim impact statements were read out by the judge.

“Our home is filled with an unbearable silence, his laughter replaced by tears and heartbreak,” the family said in their statement.

“No parent should have to bury his or her child.”

Judge Croucher became emotional as he read out the statements and was seen wiping away tears.

At the end of the hearing, he told the court this was a horribly sad case and said the boys’ young ages might be why the case had grabbed hold of him more than others.

The 19-year-old will be officially sentenced on Friday next week.

The parole board will decide whether he will be sent to an adult prison or a youth detention centre.