This article reports the case of a 12-year-old male who was remanded to an acute psychiatric service after killing another child. Initially he claimed the victim was killed accidentally but changed his story to say that another boy committed the murder. Aspects of his psychiatric hospitalization are discussed, particularly the defiant & manipulative behaviour he would display. After eloping from a maximum security ward in a state hospital, the subject was killed in an incident that was ruled an accident but was strongly suspected to be suicide. (9 refs.)