A psychiatric patient accused of stabbing two women neighbours in Tin Shui Wai on Friday was described as emotionally stable during a check-up 10 days earlier.
The suspect, 30, was charged with two counts of wounding last night and will appear in court today. He was taken to the crime scene yesterday as part of the investigation and spent a second night detained at Castle Peak Hospital in Tuen Mun.
A psychiatrist, Dr Tsang Fan-kwong, said the behaviour of a mentally ill person could change dramatically even after he was assessed to be stable.
"He may become agitated by a sudden irritation, provocation, or a past dispute," Tsang said.
The women, aged 58 and 66, were attacked at about 3pm outside their public housing flat on Tin Shui Estate. The suspect was arrested at Tuen Mun Hospital the following day.
The victims were in stable condition last night.