THE key witness in an aggravated assault trial has told the Launceston Supreme Court that his police statement was like a work of fiction.
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Former Newnham man Christopher James Barron, 38, pleaded not guilty yesterday to two counts of aggravated assault.
However, he pleaded guilty to having unlawfully injured property.
In his opening address, Crown prosecutor Peter Sherriff accused Mr Barron of having pointed a firearm at Damon Allan Turmine, 27, twice, in Alanvale Road, Newnham, about 8pm on October 21, 2011.
Mr Turmine was a passenger in a car at the time.
Mr Sherriff also argued that Mr Barron used the firearm to smash the window of the car, while Mr Turmine was inside it.
The Crown has not accused Mr Barron of discharging a firearm.
However, defence counsel Fran McCracken, in her opening statement, said her client never had a firearm, but instead had a piece of wood which he used to break the car window.
Mrs McCracken said Mr Barron lived in Alanvale Road at the time and he agreed a confrontation had occurred.
The complainant, Mr Turmine, gave evidence for the prosecution.
He told the court that he could remember little of the events that the Crown alleged had occurred.
Mr Turmine said he was a recovering drug addict and the drugs had affected his memory, which was poor.
When handed his police statement in the witness box, Mr Turmine said he recognised his signature on each page, but he thought the contents of the statement were like a work of fiction.
Justice Shan Tennent will sum up the case for the jury today, which will then deliberate.