Yellowknife (Oct 20/06) - A jealous Yellowknife woman received eight months probation in territorial court Tuesday for punching her estranged husband in the face.

The man was sitting in a van on June 7, waiting for a flight to one of the diamond mines, when she approached his window, struck him once in the mouth, and walked away.

The couple, who have four children together, had been separated for a year at the time of the assault. In her defence, the woman said that at the time of the assault she had just found out her husband was dating a woman 10 years younger than her.

Her lawyer, Brad Enge, asked for a conditional sentence so that, once she serves her probation time, she will not have a criminal record that would bar her from future employment at the mines.

"The act of striking her husband appears to be out of character," said territorial judge Brian Bruser in handing down the sentence.

In addition to the eight months of probation, she must perform 30 hours of community service and actively participate in whatever counselling her probation officer recommends.