Two men have been charged over 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 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.

Tay allegedly stomped on Mr Rodrigues' shoulder, punched his face and head multiple times, 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.

Mr Rodrigues was pronounced dead by paramedics at 8.29pm.

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

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

Both lawyers told the court 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.

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

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