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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Thomas Ballem appeared in territorial court on Tuesday to answer to criminal charges, but his clothes said more than he did. His snowsuit had a statement sewn on the back, which read: "Cost of living? 50% of the city are government employees and useless, unemployable bums. Period."

Ballem is charged with one count of failing to attend court after he did not appear for a hearing to answer to a restraining order filed against him Sept. 30. Ballem told Judge Robert Gorin he had shown up to court that day but it was so full he figured they wouldn't get to his case.

Gorin asked for a plea to the failure to appear charge to which the man replied, "I'm not going to give any plea at all."

Gorin then entered a plea of not guilty on Ballem's behalf.

Crown prosecutor Sandy Aitken added the request for the restraining order involved a prosecutor, an MLA and a territorial deputy minister.

Gorin adjourned the case to Feb. 10 to set a date for a trial.

Ballem has been sent to jail twice in 2002 and 2003 for convictions of uttering threats against employees of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (formerly Workers' Compensation Board).

No jail for punching father

A 21-year-old Yellowknife man was given nine months probation after pleading guilty to assaulting his father by punching his father twice in the nose.

Gorin sentenced the man Tuesday after he was acquitted of assault causing bodily harm but convicted of common assault. Aitken said an argument between the two men resulted in the son pushing his father against the wall and punching him.

"A lot of blood was coming out of his nose," said Aitken. The man has no prior criminal record and was intoxicated at the time of the assault.

Defence lawyer Jay Bran said the son and father were living together again and were "putting this matter behind them." In addition to probation the man is to abstain from alcohol or any kind of intoxicants, is not to be around his father while intoxicated and must attend all counselling as directed by a probation officer.

Man released after racial slur

A man who yelled a racial slur at a cab driver outside the Yellowknife airport was released on a peace bond Tuesday. The man was warned by Gorin that he could "be charged with a criminal offence and can be sent to jail" if he were to breach the peace bond or refuse to enter into it.

On Oct. 25, 2008, the accused approached the cab driver and said, "You're dead n.... Come out, I want to fight you. I'll cut your throat out with a knife," said Aitken.

RCMP responded and found the accused still at the airport in another car. The peace bond, or restraining order, is for a period of one year.