Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/04) - A Yellowknife man was found guilty Thursday of breaking into a friend's house and assaulting him during a drunken search for his wife.

Hank "Kiwi" Lafferty, who has a lengthy criminal record, will spend two years in jail for break and enter and assault, charges that carry a maximum term of life in prison.

Lafferty smashed in a friend's door in Ndilo on Aug. 10, 2003, and accused the man of sleeping with his wife.

Lafferty threw a punch that grazed the man and began yelling at him for the alleged infidelity.

RCMP were called and they surrounded the house, ordering Lafferty to come out.

Const. Fred Ritchie testified that Lafferty twice poked his head outside of the door and laughed when he saw police. When he did it the third time, the officers were waiting to grab him.

They tried to subdue Lafferty and warned him not to struggle.

When Lafferty didn't comply, he was tasered and finally brought under control.

In court Thursday, Chief Judge Michel Bourassa found Lafferty guilty of the break and enter and assault, as well as mischief for breaking a window in the house.

Lafferty was acquitted on six other charges.