On 7 Oct 2015, a Belgian father was charged in court for the murder of his son, after the latter was found dead in a condominium unit on Farrer Road on the morning of 6 Oct.
The 41-year-old Belgian national and banker Philippe Marcel Guy Graffart allegedly suffocated his son, Keryan Gabriel Cedric Graffart, by placing a cushion over his head and pressing it down. He then cradled the boy, and told him that he loved him and was going to join him.
He pleaded guilty on Monday morning (Aug 1) to a reduced culpable homicide charge; he was originally charged with murder.
The High Court heard Graffart had been suffering from major depressive disorder, which “substantially impaired his thinking process and judgement … leading to the death of his son”, a psychiatric report stated.
The High Court told that the accused had attempted suicide thrice that same night. The first reported attempt was sped along the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) after leaving his apartment at Leedon Heights, before crashing his car into the wall of the tunnel. The attempt failed when the airbags are deployed, causing him to be momentarily unconscious, but still survive.
He was then reportedly taken to Singapore General Hospital where he called the police and said that he tried to kill himself. When the officer told him to wait, the man left the hospital in a cab back to his apartment.
He had reportedly tried other means of suicide, such as stabbing himself or jumping off from his apartment balcony, but decided not to.
At about 4:30am on 6 Oct, the accused headed to Bukit Timah Neighbourhood Police Centre, where an officer, who thought he looked troubled and lost, offered him $2 to get a drink from the vending machine. The accused then walked away with the drink without collecting the change.
The officer also noticed the cuts a bruises on the accused, including the hospital wrist tag. He questioned the man, who reportedly revealed that he was from the hospital, after trying to kill himself.
He also said: “I have done something really bad to my son.”
The police officers then headed to his apartment, where Keryan’s body was found. The boy was pronounced dead by paramedics at 6:17am.
An autopsy found bruises and abrasions on the boy’s head but could not ascertain the cause of death.
Zolpidem, a drug used to treat insomnia which is not recommended for use by children, was reportedly found in his blood.
The accused said that he had wanted to take the two tablets for himself, but allegedly gave them to his son, who asked for one thinking they were vitamins.
Prior to the murder, the accused had reportedly done an Internet search for how long it would take to suffocate and choke, as well as whether one could survive a crash at 150kmh.
Before he smothered his son, Graffart allegedly told his domestic helper that he needed privacy, so she went to her room and remained oblivious to what was unfolding.
Graffart will be sentenced on 22 Aug. He faces a maximum of 10 years’ jail, caning and a fine.
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Source: The Straits Times