HEARING TOLD MAN SHOT THROUGH FOOT

A 25-year-old man was shot through the foot by an alleged marijuana
grower, a New Plymouth District Court depositions hearing heard yesterday.

Jason Watson was giving evidence before two Justices of the
Peace.

James Laughton Reeves (32), self-employed of New Plymouth, has denied
possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis, using a firearm in the
commission of a crime, injuring a person with reckless disregard and
two counts of recklessly discharging a firearm.

New Plymouth unemployed man Nathan Paul Martin (32) has denied
possession of cannabis.

Mr Watson was pruning trees on a block of land at Ahititi on March 23
when the alleged incident happened.

He said Reeves, who part-owned the land, was arguing with Daniel
Flavell, whose father owned a neighbouring property.

Mr Flavell told the court he had found bags containing cannabis on his
father's land and had moved them.

He said he was taking a sack of cannabis on his four-wheel motorbike
towards the road when he came across Reeves and Martin.

"I knew I was going to be in trouble because he had a gun," Mr Flavell
said.

"You can't run away from a bullet."

He said Martin was standing in front of the motorbike, blocking the
track.

Mr Watson said he walked over to the trio when Mr Flavell asked for
assistance.

He said Reeves was "nutting out about his dope" and started waving a
gun around when he (Mr Flavell) refused to show him where the bags
were.

"He was yelling and screaming at us to 'march now', obviously to get
his crop."

Mr Watson said Reeves pointed the rifle at his chest then fired six
shots towards the ground.

He said one of the bullets hit his knee, but deflected off his safety
chaps, which he wore when chainsawing.

"The other one went through my boot and lodged in my boot after going
through my toe. I sat down and rolled into a ball to protect my head
because I thought he was going to kill me."

Mr Watson said he took off his boot to prove to Reeves he had been
injured.

"I grabbed my chainsaw and took off."

He went to a nearby property for help.

Depositions continue today before JPs Don Morton and Fred
Cox.