A quarrel broke out outside a Balestier bar, and although two men were initially separated, one refused to back down. The dispute turned violent when a friend suddenly stepped in and threw a punch that left one man fatally injured.
The victim, 34-year-old R Dehven, fell backwards down two steps and hit the back of his head on the ground after being punched. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries a week later, according to Shin Min Daily News.
The accused, 27-year-old Muhammad Amiruddin Bin Sabtu, faced five charges in total, including cheating, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, and driving without a licence. On Monday (Oct 13), he pleaded guilty to three charges, while the remaining two were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The incident took place on May 18, 2024, at about 5.54am outside Balestier Point. Police were alerted to a fight along Balestier Road.
According to court documents, three groups of people were involved: the accused and his five other friends; Dehven, his girlfriend, and three friends; and another group led by a man named Mukesh, who knew the accused through a secret society. Mukesh, his girlfriend, and a friend were also present. Neither the accused nor Mukesh did not knew the victim.
Before the fight, all three groups had been eating and drinking at separate places before gathering at Chill Out Bistro, located at Balestier Point.
Between 4am and 5am, a quarrel broke out between Dehven’s girlfriend and Mukesh’s girlfriend for unknown reasons as Dehven’s group was leaving the bar. Dehven and Mukesh then started arguing and challenged each other to a fight.
Their friends managed to pull them apart. Mukesh was brought back inside the bar, while Dehven and his girlfriend stayed outside with their friends.
Not long after, the accused came out of the bar with Mukesh and his girlfriend. Dehven then walked over and started arguing with them again. Seeing the quarrel intensify, Amiruddin suddenly charged forward and punched Dehven in the face.
The punch sent Dehven falling backwards down two steps, hitting the back of his head on the ground. He lost consciousness immediately and started bleeding from his nose.
Fell twice and suffered fatal injuries
One of Dehven’s friends helped him sit up but let go to break up another fight, causing Dehven to fall again and hit the back of his head a second time.
After punching Dehven, Amiruddin allegedly taunted one of the victim’s friends to fight. Another friend came to help Dehven sit up, but when he turned to stop the accused and others from fighting, he let go again, and Dehven fell backwards once more, hitting his head again.
By the time paramedics arrived, Dehven was unresponsive and had gone into cardiac arrest. He was revived but died about a week later on May 25, 2024.
An autopsy revealed that Dehven had suffered a skull fracture, brain haemorrhage, and injuries to his lungs and kidneys. The cause of death was listed as severe head trauma complicated by pneumonia.
A doctor explained that the fatal injuries were most likely caused by the initial fall after Amiruddin’s punch. He said,
“The second fall may have worsened his condition, but it was not the main cause. A seated fall is unlikely to cause such a serious skull fracture.”
