SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It was an emotional, heartwarming scene at the Yellowknife courthouse Friday when a man proposed to his girlfriend less than two hours after helping her get out of jail.

James Picard gets down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend Katie Inuktalik in front of the Yellowknife courthouse on Friday afternoon. She said yes to the marriage proposal. Less than two hours earlier, Picard had helped Inuktalik get out of custody by promising the judge that she could serve her house arrest sentence at his residence. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

James Picard, 34, of Yellowknife, got down on one knee on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse and slipped an engagement ring on Katie Inuktalik's finger. The 24-year-old woman accepted his marriage proposal on the spot.

Earlier that day, Picard had helped his girlfriend get out of jail where she had been held for about a week after failing to show for a court appearance on Feb. 7. She had been charged with theft of a vehicle for taking a Northwestel truck for a joyride on Oct. 16 of last year.

Judge Bernadette Schmaltz sentenced Inuktalik to three months' house arrest. She had earlier pleaded guilty to missing her court date and stealing the truck. Picard said she could serve the house arrest sentence at his residence.

Schmaltz imposed a number on conditions on Inuktalik, including that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour, that she not consume alcohol or illicit drugs, that she consent to alcohol treatment and that she be inside Picard's home 24 hours a day except for three hours a week, when she can leave to attend to personal business.

Schmaltz sternly warned Inuktalik that the conditional sentence is not a "get out of jail free card."

"Any breaches of these conditions and you will be returned to jail," she said during the sentencing hearing.

Picard said he had no reservations in proposing to his girlfriend.

"I didn't believe in love at first sight," he told Yellowknifer. "But it happened and it caught me by surprise. I talked to a few friends who said, 'You are crazy.' But life has all kinds of surprises and here we are."

Picard said everybody makes mistakes when they are young, and admitted he has made some himself.

"It's part of growing up," he said. "How you grew up will shape who you are later on in life. It will affect the things you do and the choices you make. I used to drink quite heavily and it was quite magic that I virtually quit drinking ... I believe she is capable of the same thing."

Court heard that Inuktalik was under the influence of alcohol last fall when she and one or two other people took a Northwestel pick-up truck and drove it around for a while.

A charge of breaking and entering the building to steal the keys was eventually dropped.

Court heard the truck was not damaged but that the keys were never recovered. Court documents showed that its locks and ignition had to be replaced.

Outside of the courthouse, an emotional Inuktalik was just happy to be out of custody. After accepting the marriage proposal, and allowing Picard to slip the engagement ring on her finger, she said it was all a complete surprise.

"So unexpected and exciting at the same time," she said. "I said yes. I love him so much."

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