A 25-year-old man was charged in court yesterday with the murder of his father in their family flat.

Sabri Aslam, clad in a yellow T-shirt and blue bermudas, appeared nervous and could barely stand in the dock after his name was called. He had to be supported by two policemen as the charge was read to him.

He is said to have caused the death of Mr Aslam Alodin, 60, in their fifth-floor unit at HDB's Golden Jasmine studio apartments at Block 152B, Bishan Street 11, between8pm and 8.22pm last Saturday. Mr Aslam was reportedly beaten to death.

The prosecution applied for Sabri to be remanded at Complex Medical Centre in Changi for psychiatric assessment, saying that he faces a capital charge. If convicted of murder, Sabri faces the death penalty or life imprisonment. If he gets a life sentence, he is also liable to be caned.

Police said they were alerted to the incident last Saturday evening. The victim was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene at about 9pm. The Straits Times understands that there were no visible injuries on the victim.

A neighbour said he often heard a lot of commotion from the flat where the family of four lived. The 68-year-old, who declined to give his name, said he did not know the family well but would greet Mr Aslam and his wife whenever they met and exchange pleasantries with them on festive occasions.

He added that he occasionally saw police officers visiting the flat.

It is believed that the victim lived with his wife, Sabri and another son, who is 31.

A neighbour in the next block, who declined to be named, said she would exchange greetings with the deceased, his wife, and their elder son when she bumped into them but that she rarely saw the accused.

When The Straits Times visited the block in the afternoon, friends and relatives were waiting for the deceased's body to arrive.

The door to the flat was closed. About 15 people were waiting at the driveway at the foot of the block. Mr Aslam's body arrived at 2.50pm and the women left the flat as the men attended to the body and performed funeral rites.

The body was taken in a hearse to the Muslim cemetery in Lim Chu Kang at 4.30pm, accompanied by friends and relatives in a separate bus. Relatives declined interviews, saying the family requested privacy.

Sabri will appear in court on Oct 17.

• Additional reporting by Kok Xing Hui and Zhaki Abdullah