Woman held over fatal knife attack on husband in Bukit Panjang flat

Incident allegedly took place in master bedroom of their Bukit Panjang home

Police officers leaving the couple's Senja Road flat yesterday morning. The couple have been married for close to two years and have a 14-month-old daughter. Police have classified the case as murder.
Police officers leaving the couple's Senja Road flat yesterday morning. The couple have been married for close to two years and have a 14-month-old daughter. Police have classified the case as murder. ST PHOTO: NG HUIWEN

A 26-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a knife attack on her husband in their Bukit Panjang flat that left him with multiple slash and stab wounds.

Her 33-year-old husband, Mr Gordon Yeo, was found dead in their 15th-floor unit in Block 636B, Senja Road, by paramedics in the wee hours yesterday. He was believed to have multiple injuries on his upper body and his face.

Police have arrested the woman, Ms Vivien Teoh, and classified the case as murder.

The couple, who are Singaporeans, have been married for close to two years and have a 14-month-old daughter. The attack allegedly took place in the master bedroom of the four-room Housing Board flat.

Police said they received a call for help at around 1am. The Singapore Civil Defence Force sent two ambulances, and Mr Yeo was pronounced dead at 1.19am. Ms Teoh was taken to National University Hospital after her arrest. She is believed to have slight injuries.

The Straits Times understands that Ms Teoh's mother called the police. It is believed that Ms Teoh fled to her mother's place nearby with her daughter after the attack.

Mr Yeo was self-employed while Ms Teoh works in the human resources department at the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

There was no hint of unhappiness in the marriage and both their Facebook pages showed a loving couple. Mr Yeo had called his wife and daughter "my two precious" in a comment on Ms Teoh's picture.

A good friend of Ms Teoh's who declined to be named said they seemed like "any normal couple".

"This comes as a complete shock. She's someone who's always ready to be there for her friends and very willing to help others," said the 26-year-old.

The couple's next-door neighbour, nurse Sakinah Senan, 29, described the pair as a loving couple who rarely fought. Their families are "quite close", both having moved in about six months ago. "We talk about our children when we see each other... They visited my house during Hari Raya," she said, adding that Mr Yeo was friendly, while his wife was quiet but not hostile.

Ms Sakinah's husband, civil servant Amir Umar, 31, said: "Their daughter would come to my door to say hello to my kids and they sometimes play together too."

Mr Dean Lai, 37, a property agent who lives on the same floor, said he heard muffled shouts around midnight, followed by the sound of something dropping on the floor. He said he also heard a child's cry that lasted a few seconds and a metal gate being opened. He described Mr Yeo as about 1.75m tall with a big build and Ms Teoh as skinny.

Police officers were seen leaving the couple's flat shortly after 8am yesterday, carrying several plastic bags and large envelopes. At Block 629 on the other side of the road, forensic officers were seen collecting evidence. An area at the foot of the block was cordoned off.

Investigations are ongoing.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 01, 2015, with the headline Woman held over fatal knife attack on husband in Bukit Panjang flat. Subscribe