Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 30/04) - A 21-year-old man from Rae pleaded guilty to assault and obstruction of justice stemming from an attempt to terrorize a witness just hours before she was scheduled to testify against him.

Angus Black was sentenced to a total of eight months in jail for both offences, Tuesday in territorial court, and was also barred from returning to Yellowknife for five months.

"Violence (like this) needs to be condemned," said Chief Judge Michel Bourassa.

Black attacked the woman in her apartment on Dec. 2, 2003, the night before she was supposed to take the stand in his assault trial.

The victim was also the complainant in that case.

According to Crown attorney Shelly Tkatch, Black got into the woman's apartment and grabbed her by the neck. He also held his hands over her mouth, making it difficult for her to breath.

Black then told the woman "I should just kill you now" and threatened to chop her into small pieces and set her body on fire, said Tkatch.

Black also admitted that he told the woman he would have her killed if he went "down."

Despite the threats, the woman took the stand the next day and Black was convicted of assault.

Sixth conviction

Tuesday's conviction marked the sixth time the Black had been found guilty of assaulting the same woman.

Black's lawyer, Kelly Payne, said her client was in "turmoil" because of the recent breakup of his parents' marriage.

Black told the court he was having a "rough time" with the separation, but hoped to continue his education and become a mechanic.

Community members described Black as a "role model" and "hardworking" his lawyer said.

But this marks the second time in less than a week that Black has been convicted of assault. Last Thursday he pleaded guilty to attacking another man outside of the Gold Range in December 2002.

He was sentenced to four months in jail on that charge and is currently serving time at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre for the other offence.