Huan Yun Xiang

Case record: Huan Yun Xiang

Background

Huan Yun “Allen” Xiang was a commerce student at Monash University. He opened fire during a tutorial at Monash’s Clayton campus. He was described as a loner who sat somewhat apart in the classroom and as a student who struggled with English communication. He was identified as having permanent residency in Australia and as living near the university with his mother in a spartan block of flats.

Xiang joined the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia in April 2002 and gained a handgun licence in June 2002. Evidence was that he harboured delusional beliefs that William Wu was an agent of evil and would destroy him academically, and that his actions on October 21, 2002 focused on fufiling a perceived destiny to kill Wu.

During the trial, the defence and prosecution agreed that Xiang suffered from a paranoid delusional disorder. Xiang pleaded not guilty because of mental impairment.

The offence

On October 21, 2002, at 11:20am, students on the sixth floor of the Menzies Building on Monash’s Clayton campus reported hearing gun shots. Xiang, armed with five loaded handguns, opened fire in a tutorial room.

Events of October 21, 2002

At 11:24am on October 21, Xiang opened fire in room E 659 of the Menzies Building in an econometrics class containing twelve students. People in the classroom were initially confused by the noise and by Xiang screaming “You never understand me” from the desk he was standing on.

Xiang killed two students in the room:

• Xu Hui “William” Wu (international student from Hong Kong)
• Steven Chan (student from Doncaster)

Xiang wounded five others:

• lecturer Lee Gordon-Brown (shot in the arm and knee)
• student Daniel Urbach (wounded in the shoulder and arm)
• student Laurie Brown (wounded in the leg and abdomen)
• student Christine Young (shot in the face)
• student Leigh Dat Huynh (discharged from hospital within a day)

When Xiang stopped shooting and moved to switch weapons, Lee Gordon-Brown grabbed Xiang’s hands as he reached into his jacket. Gordon-Brown and student Alastair Boast, described as a trained kung fu practitioner, tackled Xiang. Bradley Thompson later entered the room and discovered other guns in a holster around Xiang’s waist, and removed two magazines from near his left hip and a revolver from the base of his back. After Gordon-Brown collapsed, Boast and Thompson were helped by lecturer Brett Inder to restrain Xiang for fifteen minutes until police arrived. Student Andrew Swann and university administrator Colin Thornby provided first aid. At least one injured student reportedly left the room and sought help for his injuries from security staff.

Xiang was deemed by police to be unfit for interview. After his arrest, Xiang wrote a note referring to William Wu saying: “I finally ended WW's life.”

Students and the university community reacted immediately. All classes in the Menzies Building were cancelled for the rest of the day and the university set up counselling stations. Some accounts described chaotic scenes, with students jostling onto crowded escalators to escape and concern that the gunman might be loose in the student union opposite the Menzies building. A student newspaper editor, Jesse Macneal-Brown, was quoted describing the situation as one of “a lack of effective communication” and that “It was some time before everybody knew what was going on.”

Investigation and arrest

Police arrested Xiang at the scene. He showed no resistance to police in one account. Another account described police deeming him unfit for interview.

A typewritten note taped to a wardrobe door at Xiang’s home in Welling Road, Clayton was described as focusing on killing William Wu, including references to “WW.” One quoted statement from that note said:

“Just pick up a gun, kill all those WW's until there is no more WW in the world anymore”
“To kill WW's is the responsibility defined in my destiny.”

In court reporting, a one-sentence statement was also quoted as: “I finally ended WW's life.”

Trial

Xiang pleaded not guilty before his trial to two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder on account of mental impairment.

A prosecution counsel, Sue Pullen, told the jury that the prosecution acknowledged that all the evidence pointed to Xiang being mentally impaired at the time of the shooting rampage. She told the jury that the prosecution would not be calling any witnesses to the shooting and that three psychiatrists would testify about Xiang’s mental state.

During the trial, it was said that Xiang felt the killings were his destiny. Evidence showed that Xiang joined the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia in April 2002 and gained a handgun licence in June 2002. One lecturer, Gael Martin, told the court she had expressed concerns about Xiang’s mental state a week prior to the shootings. Evidence was offered that he harboured delusional beliefs that William Wu was an agent of evil and would destroy him academically, and that his actions on October 21, 2002 focused on fufiling a perceived destiny to kill Wu.

Xiang did not apply for bail and was not required to plead in a later court appearance account.

In court, forensic psychiatrist Dr Douglas Bell was described as giving an account of Xiang’s beliefs. Dr Bell was quoted:

“He saw it as his responsibility to do what he could to get rid of the William Wus of the world and then to kill himself.”

Dr Bell was also described as saying:

“Xiang described student William Wu as the "Godfather" of Monash University and believed he was the representative of all evil across the world.”

Another quoted statement from the note described Xiang’s intent, including “Just pick up a gun, kill all those WW's until there is no more WW in the world anymore” and “To kill WW's is the responsibility defined in my destiny.”

At the start of the trial, prosecuting counsel Sue Pullen told the jury that the prosecution agreed with the defence that at the time of the shootings Xiang was suffering from a paranoid delusional disorder.

The jury took half an hour to bring in verdicts of not guilty due to mental impairment on two charges of murder and five counts of attempted murder in one account.

Sentencing

On June 17, 2004, the Victorian Supreme Court jury found Huan Xiang not guilty of the murder of Wu and Chan and of the attempted murder of five other people in the tutorial room because of mental impairment.

Justice Bernard Teague ordered Xiang be transferred to the Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital. Xiang was ordered to be detained for up to 25 years in one account.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Huan Yun Xiang was found not guilty on June 17, 2004 because of mental illness. Justice Bernard Teague ordered transfer to the Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital. The court was described as saying Xiang may be held there for as long as 25 years.

Aftermath

Memorials and honours

On October 22, 2002, flags on Clayton campus flew at half mast. A graffiti artist wrote: “Life is short. Cherish your friends. Love one another. R.I.P.” on a campus billboard.

On October 21, 2003, a day of reflection was held on Clayton campus. William Wu and Steven Chan were posthumously awarded honours degrees by Monash University.

Bravery awards were given to Lee Gordon-Brown, Alastair Boast, Brett Inder, Bradley Thompson, Andrew Swann, and Colin Thornby for restraining Xiang and helping injured victims. Lee Gordon-Brown received the 2005 Stanhope Gold Medal, the highest Commonwealth award for bravery. The Royal Humane Society of Australia (RHSA) awarded him the 2004 Clarke Gold Medal. He was also awarded the Star of Courage, the second highest award for bravery in the Australian honours system. The RHSA awarded Alastair Boast the Gold Medal of the RHSA.

Gun laws and legislative responses

Australian Prime Minister John Howard promised a review of Australian gun laws after it was discovered that Xiang had had a gun licence and had legally acquired his weapons. The Victorian State Government prepared new laws doubling the punishment for misuse of handguns and introducing new laws against trafficking in handguns soon after the shooting.

The National Handgun Buyback Act 2003 was signed into law on June 30, 2003. New restrictions were put in place on maximum calibre and number of shots for handguns and minimum barrel lengths for single-shot guns, revolvers and semi-automatics. Victoria began its handgun buyback scheme in August 2003.

Newspaper and commentary quotations included in the case material

Jesse Macneal-Brown said:

“a lack of effective communication” and also: “It was some time before everybody knew what was going on.”

In one account, Thanh Huynh, sister of Lee Huynh, said:

“He was in a tutorial room ... I think there was meant to be a presentation by the gunman today,”
“I said 'What happened?' and he said the guy, the gunman, just went berserk and started shooting everyone and he was unfortunately one of the ones that got shot in the legs.”

Paul Howells, the first paramedic to arrive at the scene, said:

“The people on the floor at the time were just unbelievable. They definitely saved lives. One of the men in the class managed to disarm the gunman, secure the weapons, and treat two of the patients,”
“Credit should also be given to the attending ambulance officers, who did a superb job. The death toll could have been much worse.”

Jesse Macneal-Brown was quoted about communication, and Alan Lindsay was quoted about closure; Professor Lindsay said:

“Nothing will replace Steven Chan and William Wu, two exceptionally bright Monash honours students whose lives were cut short,”

Other details

Xiang was described as armed with five loaded handguns when he opened fire and as having a total of five handguns; other reporting described accounts of seven firearms in the six months before the shooting rampage after Xiang became a licensed gun owner. One report also stated Xiang was found to be carrying three handguns on a gun belt under his jacket, with a fourth tucked down the back of his trousers.

One report described Xiang as having left behind a note about his intentions and then proceeding to the tutorial where he was to present an oral dissertation, which was postponed until the last date possible before university classes ended and final examinations began.

A quote from Inder to media said:

“I can’t say much about the allegations that have been made but I know the person I was holding down. I know that he is a committed student, a hard-working student, a very intelligent student. But there’s probably also some deep concerns for his welfare that I would have.”

Acting Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Alan Lindsay was described as stating the verdict would provide a degree of closure, and was quoted:

“Professor Lindsay said yesterday's verdict would provide a degree of closure to this tragic chapter for the university community.”

Outside court, Dr Gordon-Brown’s parent Oxley and Joan Gordon-Brown expressed relief that the trial was over. One quote from Mr Gordon-Brown said:

“I just hope the experts got it right and he (Xiang) is not smarter than them,”
“He still has a bullet in him. He'll remember it for the rest of his life,”

A court-related quote from Xiang included his plea:

“Not guilty because of mental impairment”

A quote describing Xiang’s courtroom statements about his victims and belief in a destiny was included via Dr Bell’s description:

Additional quotes from the case material included residents’ statements about Xiang and English communication difficulties, including Ruwan Bandara’s comment:

“very surprised”
and: “a very quiet, friendly guy. When he talked he was smiling and friendly.”

Bandara said:

“We spoke about pushing his car to the garage. We couldn’t understand what he said.”

Mike Puleston said:

“There are few situations more stressful than that of being an overseas student, trying to operate in a strange culture, with the heavy weight of family expectation upon one.”

Phong Nguyen was quoted:

“We have to look seriously at how our universities support overseas students.”

He also said:

“How much pressure are they under to take overseas students regardless of their ability? Then students are here, and the universities do not support them enough. The universities take their money, but do not support them.”