One year firearms prohibition for hunter who gets "3/4 of diet" off the land
Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 07/01) - A 39 year-old Deline man in custody since February will serve another month in jail and be prohibited from possessing firearms for a year.
Harold Norman Beyonnie pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of a firearm for a dangerous purpose. Charges of careless use of a firearm and assault were dropped.
Court heard that on the night of February 17, police got a call from Deline about a domestic dispute. The operator who took the call could hear what sounded like "slaps and punches" in the background.
When Police arrived at the house, they saw Beyonnie waving a shotgun. He was drunk and threatening "to suicide himself."
Police tackled him. The shotgun was not loaded, but amunition was found lying on the ground.
A witness told police that Beyonnie and his common-law wife drank a 40-ounce bottle of vodka before the incident.
Crown attorney Sandy Aitken said Beyonnie created had "a very dangerous situation for all" and urged Judge Michel Bourassa to impose a lengthy firearms prohibition.
Beyonnie's lawyer said his client relies on cuntry food for "three-quarters of his diet." Bourassa was not moved. "He can still go on the land," said Bourassa, and suggested that Beyonnie's friends could hunt for him.
"Do something about your drinking Mr. Beyonnie, for your own sake," Bourassa warned.
