Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 27/06) - Spousal assault is far too common in the North, territorial court Judge Robert Gorin told a Yellowknife man as he sentenced him to three months in jail.

"You have to be deterred and so do others in the NWT," Gorin told a 27-year-old Yellowknife man.

Last December the man and his common-law partner argued over a debit card, and he choked her until she regurgitated and almost passed out.

After he left the house with the debit card, the victim called police, who arrested him.

"It is one incident, but one serious incident," Gorin told the man, who pleaded guilty to the assault charge.

Gorin took the early guilty plea into account, but said the man's lengthy criminal record, which included assault convictions, was a concern.

"They indicate you must be deterred."

Gorin said the sentence would have been in the four -five month range if not for the early plea.