The man who attacked Reverend Christopher Lee has a violent history, with prior convictions for a similar stabbing incident.
The man arrested for stabbing Reverend Christopher Lee at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah on November 9 has been identified as Basnayake Keith Spencer, a 37-year-old Singaporean. Spencer, who had previously been seen at the church, is not a regular parishioner, according to those familiar with him. A video circulating online after the attack showed a bloodied Spencer, wearing a white T-shirt, being escorted away from the church by authorities.
Spencer has a criminal history, having been convicted in 2019 for causing grievous harm with a dangerous weapon. At the time, he pleaded guilty to stabbing his ex-girlfriend at a party while under the influence of drugs. He had been sentenced to prison for this previous crime.
The attack on Father Lee occurred during the church’s monthly children’s mass, while Holy Communion was being distributed. The assailant, who was found to have five weapons in his possession, including the folding knife used in the attack, was quickly subdued by the church congregation and arrested. Father Lee, aged 57, underwent surgery and remains in stable condition, receiving medical monitoring at the hospital.
Parishioners expressed their shock at the incident. Ms. Rosalin Kolandasamy, a long-time member of St Joseph’s Church, recalled hearing about the attack moments after it happened. She praised Father Lee’s efforts to bring the church community together, citing his initiative to arrange a group outing for parishioners. Other attendees, like Jose Nidhin, a software engineer, were disturbed by the fact that the attack occurred during a children’s mass, in front of young attendees.
The police have announced that Spencer will be charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon, an offence that carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment, up to 15 years in prison, caning, or a fine, upon conviction. Authorities have also requested a psychiatric evaluation of Spencer, noting that while he had previously declared himself as Christian, there is no indication that the attack was motivated by religious reasons.
The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) condemned the attack and expressed gratitude for the swift action of the Archdiocesan Emergency Response team and other church members, who helped restrain the attacker. The NCCS president, Bishop Lu Guan Hoe, offered prayers for the perpetrator, despite the uncertain motives behind his actions.
