Snowdrift (Aug 11/03) - A Lutsel Ke man who repeatedly punctured his wife's back, arms and foot with a large butcher knife was sentenced to 18 months in jail in territorial court last Tuesday.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon.

The victim believed he was going to kill her, Crown Counsel Caroline Carrasco told the court.

The woman told police the man was sober when he attacked her. About an hour later, they found him passed out on a sofa in the residence in a moderately intoxicated state, said Carrasco.

The accused has 23 past convictions, 11 for assault.

His lawyer, Jim Brydon, said although the man used a butcher knife, the injuries he inflicted were superficial and she did not require stitches. He said the man poked the woman with a knife.

Judge Michel Bourassa said the man's violent behaviour hasn't changed over the years, despite jail time.

That's very frustrating because he keeps hurting people. I wouldn't want to speculate on the impact this has on his children.

The victim submitted a victim impact statement. She said it is hard on the couple's three children to have their father in jail. She said she doesn't remember the incident because they were both drunk and she asked the judge not to incarcerate him.

That will only make him angry, she wrote.

The accused stood in court and said he has an alcohol problem.

Do something about it before you kill someone, said Bourassa.