Man denies using gun to assault in-laws

 A MAN, who was allegedly in possession of an unlicensed firearm and who assaulted his sister in-law and her brother, appeared before the Lae Committal Court yesterday.

Nathaniel Watson, 32, from Sasaraka village, Orokaiva, Northern, pleaded not guilty to the offence, saying he was never in possession of a firearm.

Police prosecution alleged that on March, 10, around 8am at the Sio Sepik compound at the Bumbu settlement in Lae, Watson was armed with the shot gun and threatened to shoot his sister-in-law Cecilia Onolo and her brother Kaiwo Onolo.

The gun was described as a factory made Winchester shotgun which was loaded.

The court heard that during his rampage, Watson allegedly assaulted a community leader at the settlement.

The matter was reported to police who went to the settlement and apprehended the suspect.

Police claimed in court that the suspect had thrown the weapon near a house when he saw them approaching.

The weapon and ammunition was later recovered by police.

Lae District Court magistrate Nasaling Bingtau asked Watson if the allegations against him by the police were correct but he denied the offences.

“Nothing in (my) possession,” Watson said with hands clad at the back as he stood in the witness box.

Bingtau adjourned the case to April 15 to allow police to call up their witnesses to testify against the suspect.