Attack on priest: Suspect was previously convicted of stabbing ex-girlfriend

The Singaporean man arrested for stabbing a priest at a church in Bukit Timah on Nov 9 has been identified as Basnayake Keith Spencer.

- Samuel Devaraj

Basnayake, 37, had previously been seen at St Joseph's Church in Upper Bukit Timah, but was not a regular, parishioners told The Straits Times.

A video circulating online following the attack on 57-year-old Reverend Christopher Lee on Nov 9 showed a lean, bald man in a bloodied white T-shirt being led away from the church with his hands behind his back.

ST found out that the man in the video is Basnayake. He was convicted and jailed in 2019 for causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, having pleaded guilty to stabbing his former girlfriend at a party while he was on drugs.

Ahead of morning mass on Nov 10, at least three members of the church's parish emergency preparedness task force were seen patrolling the premises. They conducted bag checks on some churchgoers.

At the mass, parishioners were updated about Father Lee's condition. The church said the parish priest's surgery went well, and that he is resting.

It also posted an update on Facebook that Father Lee is in stable condition, and remains in hospital so that doctors can monitor him.