Trio Jailed for Payback Murder of Newcastle Drug Dealer

Three men have been sentenced to significant prison terms for the payback murder of a Newcastle drug dealer, which originated from a fake gun deal. The victim, Anthony Nugent, a Hamilton South heroin dealer, was shot dead at his apartment front door on September 6, 2022.

Sentence Handed Down

In May, Mohamad Raad, 46, Tyrone Tuli, 30, and Mohd Azlan Latham-Aznan, 29, were found guilty in the Supreme Court in Newcastle of murder. They were sentenced today by Justice Peter Hamill, who noted the men sought out Mr Nugent, angry over the $22,000 sale of a fake gun.

"There was an attempt to get the money back that was lost in the dodgy gun transaction the night before," Justice Hamill said.

Raad, who was the shooter, was sentenced to a maximum jail term of 23 years, with 17 years and six months non-parole. Tuli was sentenced to a maximum term of 20 years and four months, and Latham-Aznan to a maximum term of 15 years and three months, reflecting his lesser role.

Intent to Kill

A jury accepted Raad was the shooter, and that Tuli and Latham-Aznan were both present and part of a joint criminal enterprise. Justice Hamill said witnesses described talk about the gun deal before Mr Nugent was shot through his screen door.

"A witness spoke about returning the money relating to the phoney gun supply," Justice Hamill said.

Raad argued the gun went off accidentally. Justice Hamill rejected that, saying the double-barrelled shotgun was fired with an intention to kill.

"The firearm was discharged from a very close range to Mr Nugent's chest," he said. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt at the time Mr Raad discharged the shotgun into Mr Nugent's chest, he intended to kill him. The trigger was pulled deliberately."

Impact on the Victim's Family

In sentencing the men, Justice Hamill took into account the harm caused to Mr Nugent's wife. In her victim impact statement, she told the court she was unable to afford a private rental, forcing her to stay in the same public housing unit where Mr Nugent was killed.

"Offences like these make people in the community feel less safe and secure, and the impact on friends and relatives is devastating," Justice Hamill said. "His partner has had no choice but to reside at the very unit where the murder occurred, making it extremely difficult and stressful. She is constantly reminded of the murder and does not feel safe in Hamilton South."

Justice Hamill said the case was "a serious example of murder" and the men needed to be punished for their joint roles.

"The offence was committed in company, committed in the victim's home, the offence involved use of a weapon being a loaded double barrel shotgun," he said.

"Mr Nugent was impaired and affected by drugs and relaxing at home, with the blast from the gun heard in the nearby area."

At the end of sentencing proceedings, Justice Hamill again offered his condolences to Mr Nugent's family.