Aaliyahna Current Events

 A man shot in the face with a sawn-off rifle denies allegations suggesting he shot himself, and says he still has nightmares about the incident.

In the High Court at Hamilton yesterday, Steven Robert Nicol, 32, denied a charge of the attempted murder of Christopher Young in Cogswell Rd, Raglan, on April 18, last year.

Through his lawyer, Matthew Bates, Nicol also denied an alternative charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Instead he claimed Young shot himself after the pair struggled with the .22 rifle in the front seat of a Holden Rodeo.

But that suggestion infuriated Young as he sat in the witness box.

"It was after it had gone off and seen it in his lap.

"I wrestled it out of his grip . . . I relive that night every single night," Young said.