The man involved in the stabbing incident in St Joseph’s Church has been charged.
The Singaporean man, Basnayake Keith Spencer, 37, has been charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon following a violent incident at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah on 9 November.
Basnayake, who was previously convicted of assault in 2019, allegedly stabbed Reverend Christopher Lee, 57, during the church’s monthly children’s mass.
Basnayake appeared via video link at the State Courts on 11 November, where prosecutors requested he be remanded at Changi Prison’s Complex Medical Centre for psychiatric evaluation.
The case will continue on 2 December.
If convicted, Basnayake faces a life sentence, or up to 15 years’ imprisonment, along with possible caning and/or fines under Section 326 of the Penal Code.
Everything About Basnayake Keith Spencer, the Stabber in at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah
Basnayake’s criminal history includes a conviction in 2019 for a violent incident involving his former girlfriend, where he admitted to assault while under the influence of drugs.
Basnayake, who is Sinhalese, has identified himself as a Christian when registering with Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
The police emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest the attack was religiously motivated or linked to terrorism.
The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) and the police have continued to assure the public that safety measures are in place, and additional security protocols have been enacted to reassure churchgoers following the assault.
It’s reported that Basnayake has previously visited St Joseph’s Church, although he was not a regular attendee, according to sources.
What Basnayake Keith Spencer Did
Witnesses at the church reported that the attack occurred while Father Lee was distributing communion.
Congregation members quickly intervened to restrain Basnayake, who was later seen being led away by police in a blood-stained white T-shirt, hands secured behind his back.
Authorities confiscated a folding knife—the weapon allegedly used in the attack—along with four other weapons found on Basnayake.
Parishioners were informed on 10 November that Father Lee’s surgery had been successful, and he is currently in stable condition at the National University Hospital, where doctors continue to monitor him.
On the morning following the attack, members of the church’s parish emergency preparedness task force were seen conducting bag checks on arriving parishioners as part of stepped-up security measures.
The NCCS also issued a strong condemnation of the attack, with NCCS President Bishop Lu Guan Hoe expressing gratitude for the quick actions of the congregation and church emergency team, who helped to detain the assailant.
In a letter to Archbishop William Goh, Bishop Lu noted, “We pray for the perpetrator even though we do not know the reasons behind his actions at this point.”
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