Court remands 81-year-old over fatal stabbing of neighbour

An 81-year-old man suspected of killing his 65-year-old downstairs neighbour in Odense has been remanded in custody for four weeks, DR reports.

At a custody hearing at Odense Court, it emerged that the accused stabbed the victim four times in the chest with a scout knife. The 65-year-old died later that morning. Police believe the stabbing happened shortly after 8am the previous day, near Nedergade.

The suspected trigger was a letter delivered by a postal worker. The 81-year-old believed his neighbour had stolen a letter from him, became extremely angry and started a fight with him, according to details from the hearing reported by Fyens Stiftstidende.

The prosecutor said the accused’s behaviour suggested paranoid beliefs. He had also thought that motorcycle gang members were after him and that the victim had arranged it. According to a police report, the man told officers after his arrest: “Unfortunately, I lost it.”

The 81-year-old admitted to assault resulting in death but denied intending to kill his neighbour. The judge ordered that he be transferred from the remand centre to a psychiatric ward when a place becomes available. He will also undergo a psychiatric assessment.