SINGAPORE — On Monday, August 3, 2026, a Singapore court addressed the case of Ridawi Morsudin, a 90-year-old man who killed his 74-year-old wife in an "overwhelmingly lethal" attack in June 2024. The victim was discovered by her grandson lying in a pool of blood with a gaping wound from her jaw to her chest, 34 sharp-object injuries, and fractures to her skull, neck, spine, and ribs. Ridawi was found nearby, mumbling to himself.
At the time of the offence, Ridawi was 88 years old and deemed of unsound mind due to dementia and delirium. His mental faculties had been deteriorating since 2022, and from January 2023, police responded to him 10 times as he was lost and disoriented. He no longer recognized family members and is currently bed-bound with worsening health, rendering him unfit to plead or mount a defense in court.
This case is believed to be the first of its kind handled under amendments to Singapore's unsoundness of mind legal framework, which took effect in February 2025. The court must determine Ridawi's incapacity to defend himself and report the case to the relevant minister, specifying the notional imprisonment period he would have faced if convicted.
Mr. Goh, speaking in court, stated that the victim was killed within a six-hour window starting at 7pm on June 4, 2024, when she was last seen alive. Legal representatives noted the "overwhelming lethality of the sharp force injuries present" and suggested that delirium may have contributed to Ridawi's actions. Mr. Taufiq commented that a two to three-year period would allow authorities and the Institute of Mental Health to arrange for Ridawi's care, enabling him to pass away with family support upon release.
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