A judge has issued arrest warrants after a key witness to a North Wagga shooting failed to show up to court.
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The trial of brothers Carl and Shyheim Little returned to Wagga District Court on Wednesday, when two witnesses to the alleged shooting on Mill Street were due to give their evidence.
However, when it came time to call them to the stand, neither witness appeared, leaving Judge Gordon Lerve no option but to issue a warrant for the arrest of one of them and prepare a warrant for the second.
“This court is not going to sit idly by and have witnesses tell this court if and when they will appear,” Judge Lerve said.
Officer in charge of the case Senior Constable Scott McFarland said the first witness had blatantly refused to come to court.
“I spoke with her on Monday about the trial, and she indicated she did not want to attend and was unwilling to give evidence,” Senior Constable McFarland said.
“[The other] was very shaken and very scared about the possibility of giving evidence – he indicated his anxiety levels were through the roof.”
Judge Lerve also prepared an arrest warrant for him, but directed it lie in wait until 10am tomorrow to give him another chance to appear.
There were more complications when a third witness, the alleged victim of the shooting, came to give evidence but could not due to a faulty video-link.
The Crown sought permission for Gabriel George to give evidence via video-link so he did not have to confront his alleged attackers, but Judge Lerve said that may no longer be an option.
“If it can’t be fixed overnight, he may well have to be here on Monday to give evidence,” he said.
The trial continues.
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