The man accused of attacking his grandparents, killing his grandfather by hitting him in the head several times and wounding his grandmother was remanded in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday for further psychiatric evaluation.

He is 26-year-old Ricardo Kirkpatrick from a Kingston address.

Kirkpatrick, who is believed to be mentally ill, is to return to court on February 21 when the matter will be mentioned as he is still not fit to plead.

Allegations are that on August 23, a piece of board was used to hit the 79-year-old grandfather in his head several times resulting in wounds to his body. It is also alleged that the board was then used to hit the grandmother in the head and body causing swelling and bruises.

It is reported that Kirkpatrick's grandparents were rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital, where the grandfather succumbed to his injuries and the grandmother was admitted in stable condition.

The accused was reportedly flogged by residents of the community which resulted in him, too, being hospitalised.

Kirkpatrick's mother had told court in September that her son suffers from a mental illness and is being treated at Ward 21 at the University Hospital of The West Indies. However, she said Kirkpatrick takes his medication irregularly.