Two men have been convicted of assault causing bodily harm in a British Columbia gym dispute that began when their victim moved a weight bench. The incident occurred at the Poirier Recreation Centre in Coquitlam on February 27, 2024.
Details of the Incident
Ali Alabed and Sa’Ad Munshed were working out together when Zhe Ming Bryan Wong, a 32-year-old accountant and digital marketer, asked an elderly Asian man if the weight bench beside him was free. After receiving a nod, Wong moved the bench to the cable machine area. Moments later, Munshed confronted Wong, yelling, 'Who the f--k took my bench?'
According to Judge Gregory J. Brown's May 27 decision from B.C.'s Provincial Court, surveillance video showed Munshed approaching Wong aggressively. Wong initially tried to return the bench, but the situation escalated. Munshed testified that Wong pushed him, while Wong claimed he feared for his safety and wanted to stand his ground.
Escalation and Assault
The confrontation continued as Munshed and his associates followed Wong after he left the gym. Despite attempts by Munshed's brother to act as a peacekeeper, the violence escalated. Judge Brown noted that Munshed and Alabed could have easily left but instead chose to assault Wong.
'It was ultimately a violent two-on-one response to some moderate pushes and kicks,' said the judge. The court viewed video evidence showing Munshed and Alabed attacking Wong, resulting in injuries that led to the assault causing bodily harm charges.
Court Decision
Both men were convicted of assault causing bodily harm. The judge emphasized that the initial dispute over the weight bench should not have led to such violence. The case highlights how minor disagreements can escalate into serious legal consequences.
