Jail, caning for four involved in riot that killed USS stuntman

SINGAPORE — Four rioters involved in a Christmas Eve brawl that left a bystander dead were given sentences ranging from 18 to 42 months’ jail and six strokes of the cane yesterday.

The incident was sparked by a couple’s quarrel outside a bar on Circular Road at around 2.40am on Dec 24, 2015. Their friends tried unsuccessfully to intervene as the couple, who were shouting and shoving each other, drew the attention of onlookers nearby.

One of their friends, Muhammad Nazmir Osman, confronted two onlookers, and although one of them indicated that he did not want any trouble, Nazmir, 24, punched him in the face. Five friends, including Muhamad Adnan Abdullah, joined in to beat up the two onlookers.

Adnan, also 24, and his friends went on to attack a third onlooker.

Later that night, some of those who were assaulted returned to the bar to confront their assailants, but were stopped from entering.

Masazlie Mohamed Salleh, 43, was working at another bar down the road and overheard the commotion. He went over to shout vulgarities at them and shoved them. Adnan and his friends saw the dispute and ran over to join the attack again, sparking a chase down Circular Road.

Another friend of theirs, Ahmad Jumaidi Salleh, 24, witnessed the commotion as he was walking to the bar with his girlfriend and decided to join the chase, which ended near a taxi stand along the road after one of their victims fell. The group closed in on the victim and rained blows on him, although Ahmad did not take part in the fight.

John Denley Nelson, a stuntman from Universal Studios Singapore, tried to break up the fight and was punched. He fell to the ground and hit his head on a kerb. After being hospitalised in a neurointensive care unit for a week, his family decided to remove respiratory support and he died on New Year’s Day of severe head injuries.

In her sentencing remarks, District Judge Lorraine Ho said that the series of violent incidents had led to tragedy on “what was supposed to be a day of festivity and celebrations”.

Ahmad was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, while Adnan and Masazlie were each sentenced to 30 months’ jail and six strokes of the cane.

Nazmir, pinpointed by the judge as the instigator of the incident, was sentenced to 42 months’ jail and six strokes of the cane for rioting.

District Judge Ho said that this was his third rioting offence in seven years, and it spoke volumes of his troubled history.

He also faced separate charges for carrying two parangs — with blades each measuring 36cm in length — and assisting an unlicensed moneylender. His total sentence came to 54 months’ jail, 12 strokes of the cane and a fine of S$30,000.

Two others involved in the incident were prosecuted for rioting last month and jailed from 28 to 30 months, respectively. They were also given six strokes of the cane.

Another nine people were charged in relation to the rioting incident and will be dealt with by the courts at a later date.