S'porean man charged with stabbing priest during evening mass

A 37-year-old Singaporean man who allegedly stabbed a priest at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah was charged at the State Courts on Monday with voluntarily causing grievous hurt using a dangerous weapon.

Basnayake Keith Spencer, who appeared in court via video link, was unrepresented, according to The Straits Times (ST).

The prosecution applied for him to be remanded at the Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre for three weeks to undergo a medical examination.

The judge set Dec 2 for further mention of the case.

Spencer faces life imprisonment or a jail term of up to 15 years, caning, and/or a fine.

The victim, Christopher Lee, 57, a parish priest at the church, was stabbed in the mouth, suffering an 8cm laceration on his tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper left lip, and a 4cm cut on the corner of his mouth, according to ST, citing court documents.

In the incident on Saturday (Nov 9), a knife-wielding man attacked Lee as he was celebrating the 5.30pm mass.

According to police, two congregation members disarmed the accused, who has a history of serious injury and drug-related offences.

Police officers subsequently arrested him.

He is believed to have acted alone, and there is no evidence to suggest that the attack was religiously motivated or an act of terrorism, the Home Ministry said earlier.

- Bernama

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