Yellowknife (June 13/03) - After looking at photographs of a victim's injuries, territorial court Judge Michel Bourassa sentenced a man to 14 months in jail for assault causing bodily harm.

"He was killing her," said the judge. "Unbelievably brutal. There's a monster living in this man."

Since the Crown proceeded summarily, the maximum sentence Bourassa could give was 18 months. The man pleaded guilty to the charge.

On March 29 police found the victim "crying and in shock" at her home, said crown counsel Michael Ewenson. The man, who was sitting on his knees, told police he did it but refused to give his name.

Ewenson told the court the couple was drinking at the Gold Range and got into an argument. When they got home, he sat on top of the victim and delivered multiple blows to her head. Her face, upper arm and neck were bruised and swollen after the attack.

Defence lawyer James Mahon said the man suffers from severe depression and has attempted suicide. He also has past convictions for spousal assault.

Judge Bourassa said the court is obligated to treat "repeat wife-beaters harshly" if necessary. He was also sentenced to an additional month in jail for failing to obey an undertaking condition which stated he could not to drink.