SINGAPORE – A 65-year-old man who was charged in January with murdering his neighbour in a Bukit Batok flat was on Feb 9 further remanded for four weeks.

The prosecutor sought the extension for a psychological assessment, saying that Quek Eng Hock could only be assessed recently as he had been unwell.

She did not elaborate on why he was ill.

Quek will be remanded at Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre.

He appeared in court via video-link at around 9.15am, and asked in Mandarin if his younger brother and sister were in court.

Their names were called out, but no one came forward.

His case was adjourned to March 8.

Quek allegedly killed his neighbour, a 43-year-old woman, in a flat at Block 460B Bukit Batok West Avenue 9 on Jan 6.

The victim’s identity is protected by a gag order.

Her five-year-old son was injured and taken conscious to National University Hospital.

The police had previously said they received a call for help at 8.20am on Jan 6, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene by Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedics. Quek was arrested there.

Police officers were later seen going through rubbish at the block’s bin centre. A knife, believed to have been used in the incident, was seized.

Those convicted of murder can face the death penalty.