A Supreme Court jury learned step by step how to use a gun yesterday.

Firearms expert Detective Constable John Kirkpatrick demonstrated to the nine-man, three-woman jury how to use a nine millimetre semi-automatic pistol.

Allan William Daniels, 28, of Brooklyn Lane, Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to using a firearm to resist arrest, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without a licence on February 12, 2004.

Carrington Mahoney represents the Crown and John Perry QC represents the defendant along with Charles Richardson.

The witness first saw the gun in an evidence bag along with the magazine with four rounds of nine millimeter ammunition the same day Daniels was arrested.

DC Kirkpatrick told the court to test the gun, he took out the rounds, inserted Police ammunition and fired all five rounds without any problems before engraving it with his initials for identification purposes since the serial numbers had been scratched off.

He said the interior of the gun was very dirty like it hadn't been cleaned in awhile and the exterior, on the top slide, was "heavily pitted" with rust.

DC Kirkpatrick explained the gun works by inserting the magazine with the rounds into the magazine weld, cocking the top slide back and pulling the trigger.

He said every time the trigger is pulled, another round automatically goes into the barrel meaning the gun will always fire if there are rounds inside. "If you don't cock the weapon back, when you pull the trigger, it will only snap, dry fire. No ammunition would move up to the barrel. It could also happen if the magazine was out as well", the witness added.

DC Kirkpatrick also explained to the jury the magazine could fall out if the buttons on both sides of the magazine weld were pushed either in a struggle, as suggested by Mr. Mahoney. He agreed with Mr. Richardson during cross-examination that the magazine could fall out if the gun hit the ground.

Mr. Richardson asked him if there were no rounds in the magazine or gun, what would have to be done for it to fire. DC Kirkpatrick said one would have to put the magazine back in, slide the top back, cock it and then shoot.

The trial continues today.