No plea was recorded from Nazmi Izzuddin Zubairi, 30, after the charge was read before judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin, Harian Metro reported.

Nazmi was accused of trying to murder his wife, Hanis Sofea Hamdan, 28, with a knife at their home in Taman Tunas Muda, Sungai Ara, at about 5.45am on Aug 27.

The charge, under Section 307 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years upon conviction.

Ahzal allowed the prosecution’s application for Nazmi to be sent to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak for a psychiatric evaluation as he had failed to understand the charge.

The defence did not object. The court then fixed Oct 8 for the submission of the evaluation report.

Deputy public prosecutor R Lushani led the prosecution while Nazmi was represented by Muhaimin Hashim, Yazid Khairul Azman, and Ismat Arif Abu Hassan.

Nazmi had been under a six-day police remand, which expired today.