Yellowknife (Apr 07/06) - An intoxicated woman who punched a Yellowknife waitress, believing she was being rude to her mother, was given one day in jail and a year of probation.

The 26-year-old Yellowknife woman, formerly from Lutsel K'e, was sentenced by Judge Robert Gorin after pleading guilty to assault in territorial court Tuesday.

According to evidence in court, the incident took place Nov. 5. A waitress said she was taking a food order and the woman, who appeared agitated, punched her in the left arm and back of the head.

As a result, the waitress felt sick with concussion-like symptoms and had to visit the hospital.

Defence counsel Hugh Latimer said the accused had been drinking heavily and thought the waitress was rude by slamming the menu down in front of her mother.

Judge Robert Gorin said the facts of the case were aggravating. "You were intoxicated. You were belligerent. It was not provoked," Gorin told the accused.

She was also fined $510 fine for failing to appear at an earlier court hearing.

The woman was also ordered to abstain from alcohol, attend Alcoholics Anonymous, have no contact with the victim, not come within 50 metres of her residence, and perform 100 hours of community service work.