Arabic version: سجن ثلاثة رجال بتهمة قتل في نيوكاسل بسبب صفقة سلاح مزيف

According to ABC News, three men have received lengthy prison sentences for the murder of Hamilton South heroin dealer Anthony Nugent, who was shot at the front door of his Newcastle unit on September 6, 2022. The killing was described as payback after Mr Nugent sold a fake gun for $22,000 the previous day.

Mohamad Raad, 46, Tyrone Tuli, 30, and Mohd Azlan Latham-Aznan, 29, were found guilty of murder in the Supreme Court in Newcastle in May. Justice Peter Hamill said the men had sought out Mr Nugent while angry over the money lost in the “dodgy gun transaction”.

Raad, identified by a jury as the shooter, was sentenced to a maximum of 23 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 17 years and six months. Tuli received a maximum term of 20 years and four months. Latham-Aznan was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years and three months, reflecting what the court found was his lesser role.

Justice Hamill said witnesses had described discussion of the gun deal before Mr Nugent was shot through his screen door. Raad had argued the shotgun discharged accidentally, but the judge rejected that account, finding the loaded double-barrelled shotgun was fired deliberately from very close range into Mr Nugent’s chest with an intention to kill.

The judge said the murder was a serious example of the offence because it was committed in company, in the victim’s home, and involved a loaded weapon. He also considered the effect on Mr Nugent’s wife, who said she had been forced to remain in the public housing unit where he was killed and did not feel safe in Hamilton South. Justice Hamill offered condolences to Mr Nugent’s family.