SINGAPORE - Two men have been charged in connection with the death of a former Republic Polytechnic student outside a Yishun flat.

Ryan Xavier Tay Seet Choong, 22, a full-time national serviceman, was charged on Wednesday (Jan 24) with causing grievous hurt to Mr Shawn Ignatius Rodrigues at the sixth-floor corridor of a block in Yishun Street 22 between 7.40pm and 7.50pm on July 9, 2016.

He allegedly stomped on Mr Rodrigues' shoulder, punched his face and head multiple times, forcefully pushed his face to the ground, and pressed his knee on his back for about 20 minutes, causing him to suffer traumatic asphyxia with a head injury that led to his death.

Another man, believed to be related to Tay, Lawrence Lim Peck Beng, 56, is accused of aiding Tay to grievously hurt the 26-year-old by sitting on his buttocks and holding his legs while the assault was taking place.

Tay was represented by Mr Peter Low and Lim by Mr Ang Sin Teck.

Both lawyers told the court that they had just been briefed.

They asked for four weeks' adjournment to take instructions and possibly make representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The pair will be back in court on Feb 22.

In an earlier report, Shin Min Daily News said a dispute escalated into a fight.

Mr Rodrigues was pronounced dead by paramedics at 8.29pm.

The sister of the suspect claimed that Mr Rodrigues had been "stalking" her brother for the past two years. She said that they went to the same Catholic church and knew each other but were "not close".

The maximum punishment for causing grievous hurt is 10 years' jail, a fine or caning.