Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Friday, June 1, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A 36-year-old man - characterised by Judge Brian Bruser as a bully - was sentenced to 21 months in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to three charges of assaulting a woman.

Lee Bruno Abel of Ndilo, was charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, two counts of assault and one count of failing to appear in court.

Crown prosecutor Shelley Tkatch said Abel was drinking with the woman last July when they started arguing. He pushed her and then punched her unconscious.

"She woke up to find her leg being twisted," said Tkatch, adding that the woman was not able to walk immediately after the assault.

She reported the assault to the RCMP, and complained of back pain. She was taken to hospital where it was determined she had a fracture to one of her vertebrae.

The accused went on to exhibit "a pattern of violence and humiliation upon the victim," said Tkatch.

In November, while the woman was walking with a friend in the Centre Square Mall, Abel chased her around a lottery table, eventually catching her and pushing her.

Two days later, Abel assaulted her again, pushed her on a bed and elbowed her to the chest. He assaulted her yet again in December, poking her between her breasts and grabbing her by the throat.

Abel surprised the court by erupting in tears, expressing remorse for his actions and vowing to put an end to his destructive behaviour, which he blamed on alcohol abuse.

"I'm sober now," he said. "My eyes are open. You'll never hear of me again in this court. I hurt the one that I care for, and that's what grieves me the most."

Judge Bruser told Abel that "the original assault was serious, yet you went on to abuse and terrorize the victim. The way you behaved can be summed up in one word: bully."