SINGAPORE — Three men have been charged for the murder of a Universal Studios Singapore stuntman who was killed following a brawl that broke out in the wee hours of Christmas Eve at Boat Quay — a charge that will land them the death penalty, if they are convicted.

A fourth man was charged with the offence of rioting. The district court today (Jan 7) heard that all four were part of an unlawful assembly comprising at least thirteen others aged between 20 and 45, which had the intention of hurting another party of five, including the deceased John Denley Nelson. 

Muhd Khalis Ramlee, Muhd Izzuandy Yusof and Muhd Haziq Hashim, all 23, were charged with murder of Nelson, a 30-year-old American citizen.

The fight broke out around 2.59am on Dec 24, along Circular Road. According to media reports, Nelson was at a bar in the area with a friend. In the punching and kicking that ensued, Nelson ended up with a head injury. He and another 30-year-old male victim were conveyed to the Singapore General Hospital for medical treatment. Nelson, who was in a coma, later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at about 10.14pm on New Year’s Day.

The fourth man charged with rioting today is Syed Muhd Salleh Syed Sallahudin. If found guilty, he could be jailed up to seven years and caned.

All four will be remanded until Jan 14 at the Central Police Division, and can be taken out for investigations. No plea was taken from them today.

Yesterday, the police said a total of 14 suspects —  11 men and three women aged between 20 and 42 — had been arrested in connection with the incident. Apart from Salleh, nine others have been charged with rioting.

Nelson worked at Universal Studios Singapore as a member of the cast of the Waterworld show, which is based on the blockbuster film. Following the incident, Aa friend of Nelson, Ms Melissa Broughton, launched a fundraising campaign on crowdfunding site gofundme to help Nelson’s family, who had flown here after the incident, cope with his medical expenses.

A statement posted after he died read: “He went peacefully, with his parents at his side, his friends and family’s love and prayers coming from around the world, and his Singapore family gathered nearby. He was surrounded by love and faith.”

The campaign has raised over S$33,000 as of this evening, and Ms Broughton said on the website that the funds will be used on the costs “associated with this tragic event”.