Psych exam for accused zoo murderer

Jude Wijesinghe is accused of murdering Tshewang Choden. Picture: Facebook
Jude Wijesinghe is accused of murdering Tshewang Choden. Picture: Facebook

The man accused of murdering his co-worker at Canberra’s zoo will undergo a psychiatric assessment before his case returns to court.

Jude Wijesinghe is accused of stabbing 29-year-old Tshewang Choden in a kitchen area at the National Zoo & Aquarium on December 18.

When police arrived, they allegedly found Ms Choden, a Bhutanese national, dead in a storeroom at the back of the kitchen.

Wijeseinghe, who was working as a sous chef at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, was taken to hospital with allegedly self-inflicted injuries.

Wijesinghe has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

Jude Wijesinghe will undergo a psychiatric examination before he returns to court. Picture: Facebook
Jude Wijesinghe will undergo a psychiatric examination before he returns to court. Picture: Facebook

Earlier this year, the court heard police had seized evidence from Wijesinghe’s house, including a half-empty box of rodent-bait.

Police had also seized the knife suspected of being used in the stabbing from the zoo lodge’s storeroom, as well as a plastic water bottle with suspected rodent bait inside it.

In December, police confirmed the pair were co-workers.

“An autopsy is yet to be performed, but at this stage we believe (the victim) died from being stabbed with a knife. The knife was found at the scene,” ACT Police said at the time.

“The man was taken to hospital to be treated for what appear to be self-inflicted injuries and he remains in a stable condition.”

BODY FOUND
He is accused of murdering his co-worker Tshewang Choden at Canberra’s national zoo in December. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In a brief mention before registrar Banks in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, his lawyer asked for a “lengthy adjournment” after commissioning a psychiatric assessment.

Mr Wijesinghe appeared via videolink on Thursday, where registrar Helen Banks agreed to adjourn his matter until June 17.

He remains in custody.