SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 48-year-old Beaufort Delta man was sentenced to nine months in jail for two assaults on his wife, one of which caused bruising over her entire body. Sentencing was held May 27 in territorial court in Yellowknife.

"Incarceration is needed not only to protect the victim of the assaults, but the public in general," said Crown prosecutor Duane Praught.

The man was sentenced for two assaults on the same victim and two breaches of court conditions that required him not to drink alcohol and not to come into contact with the victim. He was convicted of an assault on the same victim last year. The two have been in a relationship for one-and-a -half years.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the first assault, on Dec. 31, took place at the couple's home. The man woke her up asking for a cigarette after they had been drinking heavily. Upon hearing that she had none flew into a rage and hit her with something that, according to a nurse, punctured her ear and neck. Both the victim and assailant were too drunk to remember what the object was.

The second assault occurred on April 20. The two had been out drinking for most of the afternoon. When they returned home the man began kicking his wife. She tried to escape three times - the first two times the man followed her outside, dragged her back into the house, and shut the door. She successfully escaped on the third attempt, and ran to her neighbour's house to call the police.

She sustained two black eyes, a swollen and bleeding nose, and bruises on her neck, behind her ears, and on her hips, arms, shoulders, and legs.

She did not provide a victim impact statement and told the RCMP she wished to try and reconcile with the man and resume their relationship.

"I am very remorseful for what I have done," said the man, who is rather skinny, wears glasses, and speaks in a quiet, unassuming manner.

"I'm willing to take any programs that will help me better my life," he said.

Judge Garth Malakoe cited a "lengthy" criminal record which included many assaults as well as convictions for sexual interference and sexual assaults.

Malakoe said the accused's "behaviour must be stopped before someone is hurt or worse yet someone is killed."