Upset that his girlfriend's father objected to their relationship, Navin Jatin Batla, 23, an Indian national, bought two knives and cotton gloves and then went on a stabbing rampage at her Dalvey Estate house at 1am on June 30, 2006.

He pleaded guilty on Monday in a High Court to trying to kill shipping consultant Manik Ram Shahani, 73, and stabbing two maids aged 37 and 38.

He also admitted to restraining girlfriend Mumta Manik Shahani, 38, with a knife.

Batla, who was studying marine technology at the Singapore Polytechnic, will be sentenced on Wednesday.