Singapore HDB Corridor Dispute Turns Deadly After Neighbours Clash With Stick and Knife
A long-running dispute between two neighbours ended in tragedy after a violent confrontation outside their HDB flats in Redhill left one man dead and another under arrest.
The fatal incident happened at around 4.45pm on Monday (July 20) along the 16th floor corridor of Block 55 Lengkok Bahru, where both men, aged 59, lived on the same level.
According to police, officers arrived to find one of the men lying near the lift lobby with serious injuries. He was rushed to the National University Hospital but later died from his wounds. The other 59-year-old man was arrested at the scene, and investigations are ongoing.
Fight Escalated From Verbal Argument To Deadly Attack
Residents told Lianhe Zaobao that the pair had reportedly been at odds for quite some time.
On the day of the incident, the two men allegedly got into another heated argument after crossing paths outside their homes. Witnesses claimed the dispute quickly spiralled out of control, with one man retrieving a wooden stick while the other armed himself with a knife.
The confrontation unfolded along the common corridor, leaving large pools of blood splattered across the floor and walls.
A resident who lives in the same block said she heard loud shouting before witnessing one of the men stab the other. She also claimed the attacker threw the blood-stained knife off the block after the assault.
The weapon reportedly landed on an open space near a coffee shop below the block.
Son Reportedly Tried To Stop The Attack
Another neighbour alleged that the victim’s son attempted to intervene but was unable to prevent the stabbing.
The victim was reportedly stabbed multiple times, with the fatal wound believed to have been inflicted to his abdomen. Paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene before taking him to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
After the attack, the suspect allegedly returned to his flat, where police later arrested him.
Residents Claim There Had Been Ongoing Tensions
Neighbours familiar with the pair said the dispute had been brewing for years.
One resident claimed the deceased had moved into the block more than two years ago and was frequently intoxicated. According to the neighbour, he allegedly relieved himself along the common corridor, creating foul smells that angered other residents.
The suspect was said to have confronted him on multiple occasions over the issue, but the disagreements never appeared to be resolved.
Police cordoned off the area for more than seven hours while forensic officers collected over 30 pieces of evidence. Even late into the night, residents gathered along the corridors watching investigators carry out their work.
After the cordon was lifted, town council cleaners spent hours scrubbing blood from the corridor walls and floor.
Police Investigations Continue
The Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed it received a call for assistance at around 4.45pm and conveyed one injured person to the National University Hospital.
The Singapore Police Force said preliminary investigations indicate the two men knew each other before the incident.
Investigations remain ongoing.