Jude Wijesinghe, accused of murdering Tshewang Choden at Canberra zoo, to undergo psych exam

The man accused of murdering his colleague at the national zoo will remain behind bars and undergo psychiatric examination before he returns to court.

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

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.”

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.

Originally published as Jude Wijesinghe, accused of murdering Tshewang Choden at Canberra zoo, to undergo psych exam