SINGAPORE - A 65-year-old man was charged in court on Jan 7 with murdering his neighbour, a 43-year-old woman, in a Bukit Batok flat on Jan 6.

Quek Eng Hock is said to have killed the woman, whose identity is protected by a court gag order, at a unit at Block 460B Bukit Batok West Avenue 9. The incident happened at about 8.20am on Jan 6.

He was charged with murder via video link from a hospital. He did not open his eyes or respond during the process, reported the Chinese-language newspaper Shin Min Daily News.

The woman’s five-year-old son was injured and taken conscious to the National University Hospital in Lower Kent Ridge Road.

The police said in a statement that they received a call for help at 8.20am on Jan 6, and the woman was later found dead at the scene by paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Quek was arrested at the scene.

He was covered in full white protective gear, which went up to his head, as he was escorted to a police car.

This is typically done to preserve forensic evidence, The Straits Times understands.

Later in the day, police officers were seen going through rubbish at the block’s bin centre, and a knife, believed to have been used in the incident, was seized.

The court granted the prosecution’s request to remand Quek at the Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre for three weeks for a medical assessment.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan 26.

Those convicted of murder can face the death penalty.