SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man released on conditions that he reside in Jean Marie River was given no options as to how to get there from Yellowknife.

The man appeared in territorial court on Tuesday and was released on a number of conditions, including that he reside in Jean Marie River, more than 200 km from his home community of Fort Providence.

Crown prosecutor Terri Nguyen said Jean Marie River would allow the accused, charged with two counts of assault, to be a reasonable distance from Fort Providence, where the complainants in the case also reside.

"The only question is how to get him from Yellowknife to Jean Marie River," said defence lawyer Kelly Payne.

"I'll leave that to you or (defence lawyer) Miss Wawzonek," Judge Robert Gorin replied.

RCMP brought the accused to Yellowknife for his court hearing.

The man is also charged with trespassing at a house. He will be required to not contact the complainants or any residents of Fort Providence, not to possess or ingest any intoxicants and deposit $500 upon his release.

His trial is set for Aug. 11 in Fort Providence.

Safety act charges adjourned to September

The five parties charged under the NWT Safety Act in relation to an accident at Snare Hydro Power Plant was adjourned in territorial court to September. Crown prosecutor Terri Nguyen said Tuesday the case had a very large volume of information and said an adjournment to the fall was "more than reasonable."

Four separate defence attorneys appeared for the matter which includes 15 charges against the NWT Power Corporation, Carter Industries Ltd., Mandeville Engineering Inc., and 25 charges each against Lloyd Mandeville, an employee of Mandeville Engineering, and Tim Boyce, an employee with Carter Industries. The charges stem from an accident last summer that left worker Tim Mcauley with part of his leg amputated.

Drunk driver given the minimum

A 64-year-old Yellowknife man was given the minimum penalty for driving while impaired after he pleaded guilty in territorial court on Tuesday. Donald Strang was pulled over by RCMP on March 29 after a caller reported a suspected drunk driver and gave a description of the vehicle, said Crown prosecutor Maryse Nassar.

She said Strang admitted he had consumed two beers that evening when stopped by police. He then failed a roadside test. Strang has previous drunk driving offences, but Judge Christine Gagnon noted they were more than 24 years ago.

"Even though it is over the limit, it is very close to the limit," said Gagnon about Strang's breathalyzer reading.

He was given the mandatory minimum $1,000 fine and 12-month driving prohibition.