Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 24/02) - A 21-year-old man will serve eight months in jail for beating his girlfriend repeatedly.

Henry Sanspariel pleaded guilty to seven counts related to the beating of his 19-year-old girlfriend between March 19 and June 2. He faced four counts of assault, one count of mischief and five of failing to obey the terms of his release.

In Yellowknife territorial court last week Judge Brian Bruser referred to Sanspariel's violent behaviour as a "domino effect."

Court heard Sanspariel's crime streak began on March 19 when he broke down the door of his girlfriend's home while she and her father were in Edmonton for spring break.

After his arrest on that matter Sanspariel's girlfriend told police he had punched her in the face some time before that.

The altercation was witnessed by another woman and the victim produced photographs showing a swollen and blackened right eye.

Sanspariel was released on condition that he not contact his girlfriend. There were two more incidents, then on June 2 at 4 a.m., Sanspariel's girlfriend was at his grandfather's residence drinking alcohol. He was also in attendance.

The couple began to argue, he punched her in the head and face several times and she began to bleed.

Crown prosecutor Sue Kendall asked that he be sentenced to between nine and 12 months, saying a message needs to be sent to the public that violence within or outside a relationship will not be tolerated.

Bruser agreed, noting the use of alcohol is all too often used as a defence in spousal assault cases.

"It is not a ticket to beat up on your girlfriend.

"Alcohol does not abuse people, people abuse alcohol. Violence comes out of people, violence does not come out of the bottle.

"It's a matter of choice -- your choice. If you make bad choices expect bad things to happen ... that's life," Bruser told the accused upon sentencing.