Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 07/04) - Two former fiancees were convicted Friday of assaulting police officers during an alcohol fuelled -- and partially nude --brawl last year.

The couple, in their early 20s, were each found guilty, following a two-day trial in territorial court, of two counts of assaulting a peace officer.

During an April 26, 2003, melee the female -- clad only in a bra -- kicked and flailed at officers after they entered the couples' downtown apartment to investigate a domestic disturbance.

Her fiancee, who represented himself during the trial, kicked one police officer and took a swing at another, Judge Brian Bruser ultimately determined.

The woman was given a six month conditional sentence while the man was sentenced to 30 days in jail, to be served intermittently.

Before the brawl, the couple -- who are no longer together -- had been drinking at a downtown bar when the woman became upset after she saw her fiancee dancing with another woman.

The girlfriend, who was on an anti-depressant at the time, had at least eight drinks that night.

She eventually went home. Meanwhile, her fiancee -- who testified he was extremely "frustrated" -- punched out two downtown windows, bloodying his hands.

When he got back to the couple's apartment, the man began pounding on the front door, leaving it bloodied and prompting a neighbour to call police.

The man eventually got inside the apartment to find his fiancee in the bathtub, getting ready to "hurt herself" with a razor blade.

After taking the blades away, the man and his fiancee sat down in the living room when police, with tasers drawn, entered the apartment. That's when the couple became extremely upset and confronted the officers, said Crown attorney Mike Ewenson.

At that point, the Crown and defence's version of events diverged. The man denied taking a swing at one officer and shoving another; while his fiancee said she may have fallen into one of the officers, but didn't intentionally assault him.

During the incident, police warned the couple they would be tasered if they didn't settle down, but the caution went unheeded.

Police tasered the woman twice -- according to her testimony -- below her "left boob."

Her fiancee was also tasered in the chest. He crumpled to the ground.

On the stand, the woman said she didn't remember most of the altercation because she was extremely depressed and under the influence of alcohol.

"I was very emotional, very upset," she said.