Singapore tragedy: Woman’s body found in Bukit Batok apartment; 65-year-old man charged with neighbor’s murder.the knife was confiscated

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A 65-year-old man has been arrested and will be charged with the murder of his 43-year-old female neighbour. The woman was found lying motionless in an apartment in Bukit Batok, Singapore. Morning of January 6th.

The woman’s 5-year-old son was injured, lost consciousness, and was taken to National University Hospital.

Police said in a statement on the afternoon of January 6 that they received a call for help around 8:20 a.m. The woman, who was found in an apartment in Block 460B, Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, was pronounced dead at the scene by Singapore Civil Defense Force paramedics.

The man was arrested at the scene, police said.

When The Straits Times arrived at the block around 11am, at least four police vehicles, including a crime scene van, were parked at the foot of the block.

Uniformed and plainclothes officers cordoned off the hallway leading to the second-floor unit.

Police rummaging through garbage at the block’s trash center on January 6 at around 2:15 p.m. – ST Photo: KELVIN CHNG

Around 11:30 a.m., a man wearing an all-white hazmat suit from head to toe was taken away by a police car. ST understands that this is typically done to preserve forensic evidence.

Officers were reviewing video footage in the police equipment room on the empty deck.

The perimeter of the block, including the void deck and public sidewalks, was cordoned off with police tape.

Neighbors told the media on January 6 that the man had been in frequent arguments with the victim over noise over the past few years, and police had been called several times. Neighbors on the same floor say the disagreements have become more intense over the past year, with the most recent incident occurring in December 2023.

Neighbors also said the altercations often occurred because the man who lived directly across the street from the victim’s apartment had a habit of noisily opening and closing riser cabinets outside the apartment.

At around 2:15 p.m., a plainclothes police officer was seen using a metal rod to search through trash in the center of a dumpster on the same block. According to police, a knife believed to have been used in the incident was seized.

The man will be charged with murder on January 7th and sentenced to death.

Police investigation continues.

In response to questions from ST, Hon Kerr North MP Amy Cole said: We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of those who passed away, and we especially pray for the souls of the injured children.

“My grassroots (team) and I will find out how we can help those affected and provide support.”

Arguments between neighbors over noise continue to be a problem, with the average number of such complaints received by housing boards per month increasing from 400 in 2019 to 3,200 in 2021.

This number decreased to 2,300 in 2022.

During deliberations on the 2023 Ministry of Justice budget, MPs discussed the need to require mediation between neighbors for noise disputes, disputes that resurface after mediation, and disputes where the parties wish to file a community dispute claim. resolution court.

Forensic team leaving the crime scene around 9pm on January 6th – ST Photo: DESMOND WEE

important events

8:20am – 8:25am: Police and the Singapore Civil Defense Force received a call for assistance at Block 460B Bukit Batok West Avenue 9.

A 43-year-old woman was found unconscious in a room on the second floor and was pronounced dead. Her 5-year-old son was taken to National University Hospital.

11am: At least four police vehicles had arrived at the scene when The Straits Times arrived. A cordon has already been set up from the second floor hallway to the residence.

11:30am: The man is taken away in a police car wearing a full body protective suit to preserve forensic evidence.

1:30pm: Police officers and Singaporean coffin workers transport a woman’s body to a police hearse.

2:15pm: A police officer was seen using a metal rod to search through trash in the center of the block’s trash cans. Police later said they had seized the knife.

4:45pm: Police announced that a 65-year-old man will be charged with the murder of his 43-year-old female neighbor.

5:16pm: Hon Kah North SMC MP Amy Cole arrives on the block.