Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 09/04) - A Yellowknife man was sentenced March 30 to four months in jail for repeatedly punching his cousin in the face while he was drunk.

The 50-year-old man, who has a long criminal record including six convictions for violence, pleaded guilty to one count of assault in territorial court.

"You ignite easily and blow up (while drinking)," said Judge Brian Bruser.

The man admitted to punching his female cousin in the face four or five times after she kicked him out of her house following a day of drinking in January. The beating left the woman with a bloodied face.

Crown attorney Shannon Smallwood said the two began arguing after the man made sexual advances towards the victim's daughter -- and his second cousin.

The victim got mad and told the 50-year-old not to "mess around" with her daughter, said Smallwood.

According to information introduced in court, the woman also accused the man of stealing household items, at which point he became enraged, pushed her to the ground and punched her in the face.

The man left the house and was picked up by police a short time later, walking down Highway 3 in well-below-zero temperatures.

"I'm glad the police came and picked me up," he said in court.

"I'm sorry for what I did to the family."