Yellowknife (Dec 17/03) - A Yellowknife man won't spend any time in jail for repeatedly punching his pregnant girlfriend during a drunken rage last July.

Instead, the 22-year-old was fined $500 Tuesday in territorial court after pleading guilty to one count of assault.

The man's defence lawyer, Margot Engley, said her client became upset after his girlfriend told him she wanted to have an abortion and her hit her repeatedly in the upper torso.

During the assault, the man turned to a witness and asked: "What are you going to do about it?"

The woman did not sustain any serious injuries during the July 26 beating.

Crown attorney Loretta Colton suggested a 30 to 60 day stay in jail for the man, who had no previous record.

But Bruser felt a fine was punishment enough for the man, who has nearly $27,000 in personal debt.

Colton said the couple is still together.