Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 22/02) - Lee Bruno Abel will spend 26 months in a federal penitentiary for repeatedly beating and imprisoning a woman for five days in a Ndilo residence.

Abel, 32, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and unlawful confinement in territorial court Tuesday.

The court heard the victim had travelled from Rae-Edzo Sept. 27 to spend the weekend.

During the next five days, the woman was beaten, threatened and confined in a bedroom.

At one point, the Crown prosecutor told the court, Abel threatened to "poke out her eyes with his cell phone antenna" and threatened to break her sister's leg if she tried to escape.

She was beaten unconscious and was left with her face covered in blood and her body bruised.

On Oct. 3 the victim finally succeeded in contacting a neighbour by phone, asking for help and frantically requesting medical attention.

Police responded to the residence but Abel refused to let them enter. The RCMP were forced to kick the door in and immediately arrested the accused.

The victim was transported to Stanton Territorial Hospital. Medical staff reported she had numerous bruises on her face, arms and legs, her stomach was very sore and both sides of her jaw were swollen.

The victim revealed she had not eaten in days. Abel has 13 prior convictions.

Two years ago he was sentenced to 12 months for assault with a weapon against the same complainant.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Fox requested a sentence of two years less a day for Abel, but Judge Michel Bourassa was outraged at the circumstances of the terrifying event. He called the crime one of the worst he has ever heard of.

"The woman, a prisoner in the house for five days, afraid to leave ... this accused is not fit to be in society," he said.

When asked if he had anything to say, Abel breathed a deep sigh, stared at the floor and asked, "What can I say?"

Bourassa said Abel has learned nothing after serving several jail sentences.

"This is a horrifying assault and unlawful confinement. It must be condemned," said the judge.