Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 10/02) - Territorial Court Judge Brian Bruser sentenced a man to a year in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl last October.

Edward Hartley Bourke's testimony was "implausible, unbelievable, and unworthy of belief," Bruser said before finding the 38-year-old Yellowknife man guilty.

Bourke, who Bruser estimated has "approximately 30 convictions", including one other for sexual assault stared straight ahead for several minutes before shaking his head.

Court heard last Wednesday that the girl and Bourke were staying at a woman's home while her mother worked in a mining camp.

On Oct. 25, the girl was approached by the man who offered to give her cocaine, which she refused.

A short while later, Bourke grabbed her and "stuck his tongue in my mouth," the girl told court.

Bourke also put his hand up the victim's coat and under her clothing, and touched the girl's sides.

The girl broke loose and fled to a woman's house she babysat for.

A few days later, the girl reported the incident to the police.

Bourke told the court that the girl was angry with him for throwing some of her friends out of the house a few days prior to the incident.

He also questioned why there was no DNA evidence of the assault.

"The Crown's case is ironclad. Iron does not need cement to be made stronger," Bruser replied before imposing a guilty verdict.

Addressing the judge, Bourke said he, "wanted to forgive and forget what that woman has done to me."

Bruser replied the, "sentence would reflect that lack of remorse," before imposing the year-long term of imprisonment.