KOTA KINABALU: A 17-year-old boy was accidentally stabbed to death during a traditional Silat perfomance for a wedding in Labuan on Saturday afternoon.

Mohd Amil Zulkarnain, was duelling with his 17-year-old cousin during the performance together with several other pairs of Silat duellers when the accident occurred at Kg. Patau-Patau around noon.

Labuan acting police chief Deputy Supt Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Ghani said initial investigations showed that Amil died of puncture wounds on his heart from the curved-blade keris used in the performance.

“We believe that the suspect had missed his steps and accidentally stabbed Amil in the course of the performance during the wedding of their relative,” he said when contacted.

Amil died while receiving emergency treatment at the hospital at about 1.30pm.

DSP Ibrahim said the victim’s body had been handed back to the family after a post mortem on Sunday morning.

The suspect has been detained for further questioning under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence.