Bring witness, accused told

 A MAN who denied assaulting a wo­man after she refused to be stripped has been told by the court to prove his claim he was elsewhere at the time.

Joel Apo had told Lae Magistrate Nasaling Bingtau that he was unaware of the alleged assault and had been on his way home from work when he was apprehended.

The court heard that at 8am on June 30, Apo from Chuave, Chimbu, and an Anton Boi allegedly held up the woman near the Bumbu River at Kamkumung and tried to strip her.

Police told the court when the woman fought back, Apo punched her in the face while Boih hit her with a bush knife.

Bingtau ordered police and Apo to bring their witnesses to court.