Permission given for suspect in priest attack to return to St Joseph’s Church for investigations

SINGAPORE – The State Courts have granted permission for the man charged with attacking a priest with a knife to be taken to the scene of the crime, St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah.

Appearing in court for the first time since Nov 11, when he was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon,

Basnayake Keith Spencer

, 37, attended the mention on Dec 2 via video link.

Basnayake, who was earlier remanded at Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre, will not be granted bail.

Instead, he will now be remanded at Woodlands Police Division, with his case adjourned to Dec 9.

Basnayake allegedly

attacked the Reverend Christopher Lee,

57,

while the latter was celebrating evening mass at St Joseph’s Church around 6.30pm on Nov 9.

He is said to have approached Father Lee while the priest was distributing communion.

According to court documents, Basnayake used a foldable knife in the attack.

He allegedly stabbed the priest in the mouth, leaving him with an 8cm laceration on his tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper left lip and a 4cm cut at the corner of his mouth.

If convicted, Basnayake could be sentenced to life imprisonment, or could face up to 15 years’ jail, a fine and caning.

In a newsletter distributed to St Joseph’s Church parishioners on Dec 1, the church said that it is strengthening security and safety measures, especially for the upcoming Advent, Christmas and New Year periods.

Amid the increased security, a

church security volunteer found a foldable knife on a churchgoer

that day.

Police said in a statement on Dec 1 that the 36-year-old man, who is a regular at the church and is believed to be a handyman, purportedly forgot to put away the folding knife with his other tools after an earlier job.