Man attacks neighbor with an “axe pick”

Kwajelien Ngirmang was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault and battery for assaulting his neighbor on April 18, with an “axe pick” and a “piece of concrete.”Ngirmang appeared for arraignment on July 7 with counsel Chief Public Defender Garthe Backe and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.He also waived reading of the information.Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong set the status conference for September 12 at 11 a.m. at the Melekeok chambers.The affidavit filed to the Supreme Court by Bureau of Public Safety officer Alvin Ingereklii stated that police responded to a call of a fight involving a dangerous weapon and serious injury.The incident took place at the residence of the defendant, the affidavit stated.When responding police officer arrived to the scene, the victim, Redchor Skang was sitting on a bench with his wife and was bleeding from the head.The officer noticed a one- inch laceration on the victim’s head.The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment.The affidavit stated that the victim was cleaning the boundary area between his property and the defendant’s property when he found old betel nut leaves.The victim walked over to Ngirmang’s house and called for him but there was no reply from the defendant.The victim hurled profanities at the defendant, who appeared later with an “axe pick” and swung it at the victim’s head.The affidavit stated that the victim held the axe pick to avoid direct impact but was still injured.The defendant voluntarily came to the police station and provided a statement.The affidavit stated that defendant grabbed the axe pick but threw it away when he noticed the victim was empty-handed.The defendant told police that he held the victim’s neck with his hands, pushed him down and choked him while banging his head several times on an old piece of concrete.The defendant told police that he released the victim when he noticed the victim was badly injured and bleeding.