Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 08/01) - A Yellowknife man charged after an altercation on Melville Drive last week where shots rang out appeared in justice of the peace court Monday afternoon.

Long Hai Huynh, who is being detained at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre, was ordered by Justice of the Peace France Benoit to refrain from communicating directly or indirectly with four individuals who were also allegedly involved in the May 1 disturbance.

Although Huynh will remain in custody until his next court appearance on May 13, Crown attorney Carolyn Carrasco said the no- communication order is necessary because the accused can still make contact with the Crown's witnesses from within the Yellowknife Correctional Centre.

"The jail won't allow him to call those witnesses," said Carrasco.

Huynh has been charged with two counts of uttering death threats and one count of assault with a weapon.

RCMP were called to the scene at approximately 8:20 p.m. last Wednesday after receiving reports of a fight involving weapons and gun fire.

One witness who was taking a walk on Melville Drive at the time of the incident confirmed that she heard a gun shot.

"I just collapsed... I just went weak and fell down. It was very scary," said the witness who immediately fled the scene.

Charges have been laid against two other individuals who were allegedly involved in the disturbance. Phuc Hong Huynh has been charged with assault with a weapon and uttering death threats and Chandra Mudaliar has been charged with possession of cocaine.

Both were released and are scheduled to appear in territorial court on June 11.