Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (May 20/98) - A Rankin Inlet woman is off to a Fort Smith jail after she was convicted of nearly killing her common-law husband.

Louise Papak, 40, was sentenced to two years less a day on Tuesday in Rankin Inlet territorial court for stabbing Dean Andrews in the chest with a fillet knife last Nov. 29.

He was found in a large pool of blood with a collapsed lung and a wound that came dangerously close to his heart. He was medevaced to Churchill, Man., and then sent to Yellowknife. Upon recovery, he returned to Rankin Inlet, where he moved back in with Papak several weeks later.

Defence lawyer Tom Boyd described Papak as a mother of three, widowed since 1993, who has had her share of troubles and drinks to help deal with them.

"These days, when life gets rough, she turns to alcohol," he said.

Crown prosecutor Margo Nightingale agreed with Boyd's assessment. "It's clear that this individual has had to deal with some terrible things," she said.

Judge Michel Bourassa said Papak's story of alcohol abuse is a familiar one that is heard in courtrooms across the territories.

"Jails are full of nice people who commit terrible crimes when they're drunk," he told the court.

While the majority of the assault cases heard are involve men, Bourassa said this one was really no different. Despite an early guilty plea, he said he couldn't ignore the facts of the case and had no choice but to give her jail time.

"I can't see that she's taken any proactive steps to deal with her alcoholism," he said. "She's a serious alcoholic."

Bourassa said that Papak has to learn that she accountable for her actions when she is drinking.

"Louise Papak and those people like her have to remember they are responsible for their actions when they're drunk," he said. "I sincerely hope that she re-evaluates her life while she's in prison."

When asked by Bourassa if she would like to say anything to the court before she was sentenced, Papak broke down and was unable to speak.

Papak faces a year of probation after she is released from jail.