by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Aug 15/97) - A former Fort Simpson resident's promise to mend his ways fell on deaf ears last week, when he was called to account for brutally assaulting his spouse.

John Clarence Hope, 36, was sentenced last Thursday to three years in prison for a prolonged beating of his 26-year-old wife. Their two children were in the home throughout the five-hour ordeal.

"At that time this was not so much a family home but a house of terror for your wife and the children you say today you love," said territorial court Judge Brian Bruser just before sentencing Hope.

Bruser said he had given "generous" consideration to Hope's guilty plea.

The assault began between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 2 following an argument between Hope and his partner.

Hope slapped, punched, kicked and choked her over a period of several hours. It wasn't until 11:30 that night, after several failed attempts to escape the beating, that the victim managed to flee to a neighbor's house.

Hope's promises to mend his ways were seriously undermined by a criminal record three pages long.

The courts had convicted him of assaulting the same woman on eight previous occasions. In all, he had a record of 28 convictions, 18 for assault.

At the time of the incident Hope was on probation for assaulting the same woman last summer.

Crown prosecutor Brad Allison said the pattern of violence indicated "a murder in the making."

"Basically, this man is slowly and perceptibly choking the life from his partner," said Allison.