Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Monday, Friday, June 27, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 55-year-old Yellowknife woman was sentenced Tuesday to nine months in jail for stabbing her common law spouse in the chest during an argument.

The woman was convicted of assault with a weapon after a trial for the May 26, 2007 incident.

The woman and her spouse had been drinking heavily with the woman's two sisters at a Yellowknife residence when the couple became embroiled in an argument, which became physical.

"This was a spousal assault," stated Crown prosecutor John McFarlane. "She grabbed a knife and stabbed him."

The man was stabbed in the chest and suffered a wound that was described by Judge Bernadette Schmaltz as having "bled profusely." He was taken to hospital and his injuries were described as superficial despite the fact he required five stitches.

"Violence between partners is not acceptable," said Schmaltz.

Before handing down her sentence, Schmaltz denounced the act of violence and told the woman her spouse is "the last person in the world you should be stabbing."

Schmaltz also expressed concern for the woman's excuse that being intoxicated was the reason behind the stabbing.

"Mixing alcohol with a weapon is unacceptable," said Schmaltz. "You stabbed him, not the booze."

Despite defence attorney Dan Rideout's request for a conditional sentence that would include community service, Schmaltz said jail time was necessary for such an offence. Schmaltz also noted the woman's past criminal history, which included a conviction for uttering threats.

The woman spoke only to apologize for the incident. She will serve nine months at the women's correctional centre in Fort Smith.

She will also be subject to a DNA order, one year's probation and a five-year firearms ban.