Yellowknife (Mar 07/03) - A knife-wielding man who threw his sister to the ground and threatened to kill her was handed a 13-month sentence in territorial court Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting his common- law wife, assaulting his sister with a weapon, mischief and failing to appear in court.

Crown lawyer Sadie Bond told the court the man bit his wifes hand when she refused to have sex with him on Feb. 4. His wife slapped him, and he slapped her back, saying thats payback.

He left, but returned later, accused his wife of lying, slapped her and threatened her family. The woman ended the relationship.

The man failed to appear in court to face on the subsequent assault charge on Jan. 15.

Then on Feb. 4, after drinking heavily, he verbally abused his elderly parents whom he was staying , Bond said.

His parents fled but returned the next morning to find their son still drunk. He threw his parents phone across the room and told them they couldnt leave the residence. Eventually, he calmed down and they left.

The next day, the mans sister went to talk to him. He grabbed a knife, jumped on her, put the knife to her neck and said he would kill her and then kill himself.

She kicked him off and he chased her away with a carving fork.

Later, police used a Taser gun to bring him into custody.

Defence lawyer James Mahon said his client has a serious problem with alcohol and regrets his actions. The man said hes quit drinking alcohol before and can do it again.

I dont want to be back here, he said.

Judge Michel Bourassa said the man has received all sorts of sentences in the past and is essentially serving a life sentence on an instalment plan.

Assault with a weapon is a serious charge, said Bourassa. It must have been terrifying for the victim.