Offender used butter knife to cut phone line
Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 27/01) - John Oliver is no stranger to the police and the courts.
Oliver pleaded guilty to uttering threats Tuesday after an unusual chain of events saw him thrown in jail over the weekend for contempt. The 35-year-old man, originally from Inuvik, has more than 50 convictions for various offences.
Oliver originally planned to enter a plea of not guilty on Friday to the charges, which date back to last December.
Witnesses and arresting officers had taken time out to be in court for testimony on Friday, but Oliver showed up intoxicated.
Judge Michel Bourassa found Oliver to be in contempt and ordered him held until Tuesday. At that time, he switched his plea to guilty.
Court heard that on December 22, the Salvation Army Men's Shelter was informed by the Yellowknife Correctional Centre that Oliver would be arriving. He arrived intoxicated at three in the morning, and was placed in a room with several other men that is set aside for intoxicated individuals. Shelter staff said he "was very hard to rouse," in the morning.
On December 27, an enraged and intoxicated Oliver returned to the shelter, pushing his way in.
Crown Attorney Sandy Aitken told court that Oliver demanded to see the logbook from his earlier stay, claiming "he was passing blood and must have been buggered."
Oliver then rushed into the shelter's kitchen area, grabbing a butter knife and fork.
"I'm going to cut your throat," he told the person on duty.
At that time, the Salvation Army staffer attempted to call police, but Oliver cut the phone line in the room.
Oliver then went into the shelter lobby and police were summoned.
In asking for a jail term of 12 months, Aitken told Judge Brian Bruser that "very little weight should be given to the guilty plea."
Scott Duke, acting as defence, shook his head during his submission.
"There's not much that can be said," he told Bruser.
"Twelve months is too high," for the offence, added Duke. Bruser asked Duke if he wanted to speak to his client before sentence was imposed. Duke shook his head no. The judge then asked Oliver if he had anything he needed to say to Duke. Oliver shook his head.
Finally, Bruser asked Oliver if he had anything he wanted to say to the court before sentence was imposed.
"Nope," he said, shaking his head. "I said it all to him," said Oliver, gesturing to Duke.
Bruser then sentenced Oliver to eight months, and renewed a firearms prohibition order preventing the guilty man from owning or possessing any firearms.
