Two men who were originally accused of murder were each sentenced to jail on Tuesday on a reduced charge of causing hurt. As the duo's sentences were backdated to Feb 15 last year, they have effectively completed their sentences and could be freed.

Terrence Goh Chye Huat, 44, who pleaded guilty to two charges, was given a total of 17 months' jail while Redzuan Pupon, 39, was jailed 15 months for causing hurt to Mr Gunasekaran Rengasamy, 43, with two others along Geylang Road between 1.58am and 2.20am on Feb 13 last year.

Mr Gunasekaran, unemployed, was found bleeding at Lorong 20 Geylang by police. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead at 4.27am. He had multiple injuries including a fatal stab wound on his chest. The case against accomplices Kung Kwai Cheong, 54, and Jamsari Yusuf, 50, are pending. Jamsari still faces the murder charge while Kung has been charged with abetting in causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.

A district court heard that Mr Gunasekaran was chatting with Goh, Redzuan and Kung at a coffeeshop in Geylang Road that day when Jamsari arrived and accused him of being a "hantu'' while they were serving sentence in prison. A "hantu'' is prison parlance for an untrustworthy person who would frame others. A fight then started.

During an altercation, Redzuan slapped the deceased on the face, causing him to fall back onto the floor. Jamsari punched and kicked him repeatedly. Goh also kicked the deceased a few times.

During the assault, the Mr Gunasekaran was stabbed. He managed to flee and was later found by plain-clothes police.

Goh and Redzuan could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 each.