A St. John’s man accused of trying to kill three people in a west end apartment building will remain in custody in hospital for now.

Thirty-two-year-old Mitchell Rose has been at the forensic unit in the new mental health facility since December 9th, a day after he was arrested near the scene of the crime on Anspach Street.

He faces three counts of attempted murder involving two women and a man in the building, with another man assaulted nearby.

Rose is also charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats, though police have not said what kind of weapon was involved.

He appeared briefly in court by telephone from the hospital this afternoon, answering “yes” and “yeah” in a weak voice when asked if he understood what was happening.

Court was told the psychiatrist needs another three to four weeks to complete her report on Rose.

Judge James Walsh granted that request, setting February the 11th for an update on Rose’s fitness to stand trial.