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HAY RIVER - A Hay River man has been fined for an assault involving a thrown cheeseburger.

A 20-year-old man was fined $300 in Hay River Territorial Court on July 20.

The man pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place on April 30 at The Rooster, a Hay River convenience store.

According to a statement of facts read by the Crown attorney, the victim of the assault was heading out the door of the convenience store when he was hit with the cheeseburger.

After he threw the cheeseburger at the victim, Crown attorney Carole Sheppard noted, "(the man) called the victim a bum and walked away."

However, she said the burger tosser returned with another man and pointed at the victim. The second man then assaulted the victim, who ended up with a bruise on the left side of his head, injuries and scratches to his hands, and bloody scratches on his right knee.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment.

Judge Christine Gagnon said most of the assault was perpetrated by the second man and questioned the Crown about the 20-year-old's exact participation.

"Well, he threw a hamburger," replied Sheppard.

While noting the thrown burger was "relatively circumscribed" in nature, she said, "It can't be nice to have a cheeseburger in your head."

Sheppard added the secondary assault actions by the other man were also not pleasant for the victim. "And (the man who threw the burger) should bear some responsibility for those, as well."

The man who threw the burger had no comment before the court passed sentence.

There was no information presented to the court as to what may have prompted the incident.

The second man charged in relation to the secondary assault also appeared in court on July 20.

That matter was put over to Aug. 2 for plea.

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