.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man who head-butted a mover for scratching his floor was fined $600 in territorial court on Friday.

Romain Girard, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm relating to an incident on Feb. 20, 2009.

On that day, the RCMP was called to a residence on Dagenais Court after a woman reported "one of the movers at her house had been assaulted by another male and had a cut on his head," said Crown prosecutor Danielle Vaillancourt.

She said Girard angrily head-butted the mover after he accidentally scraped the hardwood floors while moving a large piece of furniture.

The blow caused the victim to fall and cut his head. Vaillancourt said the victim required five stitches and continues to have headaches and balance problems.

She said Girard has no previous criminal record but called his behaviour excessively violent.

"Everyone has a right to safety, especially at their place of work," she said.

Girard, originally from France, told the court he would accept whatever sentence he is given.

"My (impulsiveness) got the best of me ... I cannot take it back," he said.

Judge Robert Gorin said he believed Girard was truly remorseful and, given he has no previous criminal offences, his actions appear to have been out of character.

"The assault was quite pointless," said Gorin.

Girard was fined $600 plus a $90 surcharge, and was given one year probation.