Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 25/03) - A woman who assaulted her boyfriend and threatened him with a large butcher knife was sentenced to 60 days in jail in territorial court April 15.

After drinking beer with her boyfriend of three years, the woman became upset because she lost her tooth, according to Crown prosecutor Sandy Aitken.

The 28-year-old woman wanted to get closer physically with the man, but he rebuffed these attempts. The woman grabbed a beer bottle and attempted to hit him with it.

She was emotional and affectionate one moment, and hateful the next, explained Aitken.

The man left the house, returning later. The woman tried again to get close and became violent again.

She left the room to look for her missing tooth and came back wielding a large butcher knife.

The woman told the man she would kill him if it wasnt for going to jail.

She threw pillows at him and them hit him with a closed fist while wearing rings.

He suffered a cut on his nose and forehead.

The victim submitted a letter to the court, stating he is not afraid of the woman and does not want her to go to jail.

Defence lawyer Kelly Payne said her client has little memory of the event. Payne said the woman has trouble with alcohol but was sober that day until her boyfriend asked her to buy some beer.

The woman is compassionate, funny and a hard worker when sober, said Payne.

She is employed as a cleaner and works three weeks and has three weeks off.

Judge Michel Bourassa characterized the drunken violence as numbingly familiar.

He sentenced her to 60 days in jail for assault and assault causing bodily harm.

The sentence will be served intermittently during her time away from work.