SINGAPORE - A Belgian expat accused of killing his five-year-old son in their D'Leedon condominium home will face a reduced charge of culpable homicide should he elect to plead guilty.
The offer to plead guilty came from the prosecution when the case of Philippe Marcel Guy Graffart was mentioned in the State Courts on Wednesday (March 23).
The 42-year-old was charged on Oct 7 last year with murdering Keryan Gabriel Cedric Graffart at his 32nd-storey flat at Leedon Heights between Oct 5 and 6.
Graffart worked for the Singapore investment management arm of Nordea, a company that describes itself as the largest financial group in northern Europe.
As Graffart was sick, his lawyer Ramesh Tiwary said he would take instructions from his client regarding the prosecution's amendment.
As to why the prosecution is amending the charge, a spokesman for the Attorney-General's Chambers said: "Every case is assessed on its own merits. The prosecution carefully considered the facts and circumstances of this case.
"The accused suffered from major depressive disorder which substantially impaired his mental state at the time of the offence. The charging and sentencing position will be made clear when the matter is heard in open court."
A pre-trial conference is scheduled in the High Court on March 29.
