Hougang murder suspect who killed Vietnamese mother of three remanded for psychiatric assessment

SINGAPORE: Du Zaixing, a 42-year-old Chinese national accused of murdering Ms Dao Thi Hong in Hougang, was further remanded on Thursday (19 December) for psychiatric evaluation.

As reported by state media CNA, the alleged incident occurred on 10 December at a shop on the ground floor of Block 210, Hougang Street 21, at around 11.05am.

Charge sheets did not reveal how Ms Dao, 34, died. Du has been charged with murder on 12 December. According to Section 302(1) of the Penal Code, murder is punishable by death if convicted.

During his court appearance via video link, Du, dressed in a bright red polo T-shirt, listened silently to the proceedings through a Mandarin interpreter.

A police prosecutor applied for Du to be remanded at Changi Prison’s Complex Medical Centre for three weeks for psychiatric assessment.

His lawyer, Ms Safia Begum, did not object and requested the court to inform Du that he was represented by legal counsel.

The judge granted the application and set Du’s next court mention for 9 January 2025. Du had previously been remanded to facilitate investigations, including a visit to the crime scene.

Du was arrested at the shop on 10 December and taken to hospital for injuries sustained during the incident.

Ms Dao and a 26-year-old man, both found with stab wounds, were also hospitalised. Ms Dao later succumbed to her injuries.

Victim’s Background and Alleged Dispute

Dao, also known as Ah Hong, was a Vietnamese mother of three young children.

Her roommate, Nguyen Trong Vinh, a 32-year-old assistant chef, earlier told Chinese media that the victim had a grudge against the suspect.

The dispute allegedly began one or two months ago when Ms Dao accidentally struck Du with a trolley.

While Du was not visibly injured, he allegedly demanded nearly S$100,000 in compensation.

Nguyen said that Ms Dao had been working at the Quan Long hardware store in Hougang for a year to support her family, who were in debt. Her husband, ten years her senior, stayed in Vietnam to care for their three children, aged 10, 9, and 7.

Ms Dao reportedly video-chatted with her children nightly and had recently sent them toys and snacks through a friend returning to Vietnam.