Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 24/02) - Peter Arrowmaker, 54, was fined $500 and ordered to spend one day in prison after pleading guilty in Territorial Court Tuesday to a charge of common assault.

The charm stems from a Feb. 20 altercation after Arrowmaker and his common-law wife left the Gold Range Bar.

The woman, who was under the influence of alcohol, tried to get close to Arrowmaker while he was driving and he soon became irritated. He began pushing her away from him, but she would not give up on her affectionate advances.

When the victim attempted to get out of the car, Arrowmaker grabbed hold of her and tried to get her back into the vehicle.

At some point during the altercation he struck her in the face.

She escaped and ran to the RCMP detachment. Officers observed she had a bloody eye and lip and scratches on her cheeks and nose.

In territorial court defense lawyer Robert Gorin said Arrowmaker did not want "to be distracted from his driving" and admitted he "may have punched her in the face" but "he didn't intend to do that."

Gorin said Arrowmaker was simply trying to get his wife home to take care of their child. Arrowmaker was also fined $100 for driving while his license was suspended.

Sent to prison for assault

Wayne Matthew Kakfwi, 38, was sentenced to four months in prison for assaulting his common-law wife and a one-month consecutive sentence for breach of recognizance.

It stemmed from a May 13 incident in which a desk clerk at the Discovery Inn witnessed Kakfwi strike the victim, grab her by the hair and push her until she went into a guest room.

The incident was recorded on the hotel security camera.

At the time of the incident Kakfwi was serving a conditional sentence for an assault against the same woman.

The court heard Kakfwi now has three assault convictions against the same woman.

Defence lawyer Kelly Payne said Kakfwi "changes considerably" when he starts to drink and admits that he has a drinking problem.

She also said Kakfwi was a victim of abuse at Grollier Hall Residential School.

Kakfwi apologized to the court for his behaviour and admitted "I have some issues that I really need to deal with."

Judge Michel Bourassa warned him to quit drinking.

"While you are numbing your pain (with alcohol) you are also numbing your relationship with your family ... Eventually, there may not be any family left," he said.