Yellowknife (Nov 24/04) - A Yellowknife woman has been charged with severely beating her six-year-old son.

The boy sustained "several injuries to his body" said RCMP Const. Kerri Riehl, but he is expected to recover.

Police declined to release the name of the 32-year-old woman, who made a brief court appearance Monday to face a charge of assault causing bodily harm. She was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in territorial court Jan. 11, 2005.

The charge stems from a joint investigation between police and social workers, said Riehl.

The Department of Health and Social Services received a complaint Friday morning, though the exact date of the alleged assault is not being made public.

Police are unsure why the boy was attacked, but they do not believe alcohol was a factor. Riehl declined to discuss how his injuries were inflicted.

The boy has been placed in the care of social services.