Maria Canton
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 23/01) - Two Yellowknife men facing 18 wildlife and big game charges made an appearance in territorial court on Tuesday.
A lawyer appeared on behalf of one of the accused, Frank Becker, who is out of the country on holidays.
His case was adjourned until April 17 because, as his lawyer said, it is expected to be "reasonably complex."
Becker is facing 13 charges, including illegally hunting moose and wolverine and hunting without a licence or tags.
The second man, Bradley Christensen, who was present in court, is facing five charges including hunting without due regard to the safety of others, providing false information while applying for a hunting licence and hindering a wildlife officer in executing his duties.
Christensen, who has yet to retain the services of legal counsel, also had his case put over until April 17.
Several wildlife officers were present in the courtroom to hear the outcome of their appearance.
Drinking turns ugly
A 37-year-old carpenter from Wha Ti will spend three-and-a-half months in jail for punching a woman in the face twice in a Yellowknife hotel room.
John Mantla pleaded guilty to the assault charge in territorial court on Tuesday.
Crown attorney Sue Kendall said this latest assault was just one of many since the 1990s.
"For several years now he hasn't been able to keep his hands to himself," she said referring to his criminal record.
The assault happened in December 2000 in a hotel room after a night of drinking in Yellowknife. At that time Mantla was awaiting sentencing on another assault charge committed on a different victim.
Defence counsel for Mantla, who is a Canadian Ranger, called the assault "relatively minor" and tried to justify Mantla's actions by explaining that most of the previous assault convictions happened in Yellowknife after drinking in the bars.
The woman had a bloody nose and two black eyes from the attack.
