THREE MEN JAILED AFTER A $22,000 FAKE GUN DEAL ENDS IN A FATAL SHOOTING

Three men have been handed lengthy prison sentences over the murder of a Newcastle drug dealer who was shot at the front door of his apartment after a dispute involving a fake gun worth $22,000.

The sentencing, delivered in the New South Wales Supreme Court on October 9, 2026, brought a major chapter of the case to a close, more than four years after Anthony Nugent was killed.

A Fake Gun Deal That Turned Deadly

Anthony Nugent was shot dead at his Hamilton South apartment on September 6, 2022, one day after selling a gun that turned out to be fake.

The court heard that the three offenders sought him out because they were angry about the failed $22,000 transaction and wanted the money returned.

What began as a dispute over the sale escalated into a fatal confrontation at Nugent’s home.

Three Men Found Guilty of Murder

In May 2026, a jury found Mohamad Raad, 46, Tyrone Tuli, 30, and Mohd Azlan Latham-Aznan, 29, guilty of murder.

During sentencing, Justice Peter Hamill accepted that Raad had fired the fatal shot and that the other two men were present and participated in a joint criminal enterprise.

Raad argued that the double-barrelled shotgun had discharged accidentally. The judge rejected that explanation, finding beyond reasonable doubt that he deliberately fired the weapon at close range with an intention to kill.

The Prison Sentences

The three offenders received different sentences reflecting their respective roles in the crime.

• Mohamad Raad: a maximum sentence of 23 years, with a non-parole period of 17 years and six months.
• Tyrone Tuli: a maximum sentence of 20 years and four months.
• Mohd Azlan Latham-Aznan: a maximum sentence of 15 years and three months, reflecting his lesser role.

Justice Hamill described the killing as a serious example of murder, noting that it involved multiple offenders, a loaded shotgun and an attack at the victim’s home.

Victim’s Wife Describes Living in Fear

One of the most distressing details emerged through the victim impact statement provided by Nugent’s wife.

She told the court that she could not afford private rental accommodation and had been forced to remain in the same public housing unit where her husband was killed.

Living there meant facing constant reminders of the shooting. She also described feeling unsafe in the Hamilton South area.

The judge acknowledged the devastating impact the crime had caused Nugent’s family and offered his condolences at the conclusion of the sentencing proceedings.

A Murder That Began With a Failed Transaction

The case demonstrates how a dispute over money escalated into an irreversible act of violence.

Although the three men received different prison terms, all were convicted of murder for their participation in the fatal confrontation.

For Nugent’s family, the sentences mark the conclusion of a significant stage in the legal process, but they cannot undo the loss or the lasting consequences of the killing.

Source: ABC News Australia, October 9, 2026. Reporting by Giselle Wakatama.