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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 38-year-old Yellowknife man was given four months in jail for five convictions, including a fifth assault on a woman.

On Aug. 30, Betsina approached the woman near Reddi-mart and "pushed her and thew a coffee at her and told her he was going to kill her," said Crown prosecutor Shannon Smallwood, in court Dec. 19. RCMP responded to the scene and found that Betsina was intoxicated at the time.

Betsina pleaded guilty to the charge of assault and a second charge of uttering threats was withdrawn by the Crown.

Defence attorney Jay Bran told the court that Betsina admitted to the incident and added "the coffee that he threw was half-full and cold."

Betsina also pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching his court conditions. In September, Betsina was arrested when he was found in Ndilo arguing with a woman. When RCMP arrived he cursed at officers and was combative, according to Smallwood. He was arrested again in October when he was spotted by an RCMP officer in front of the post office "grabbing people as they went by," said Smallwood. Police found him intoxicated, which was a breach of his court condition to abstain from alcohol or intoxicants.

Betsina was arrested later that month when RCMP received a call of a fight in progress in an alley on 53 Street. He was found there and again in an intoxicated state while still on a condition to refrain from alcohol.

Betsina also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court during a scheduled appearance on Dec. 2.

Smallwood requested Betsina, who has been in custody since Dec. 2, be given four to six months in jail. His criminal record shows 23 past convictions, beginning in 1988.

Bran said alcohol abuse has been a struggle for Bestina.

"He has had alcohol issues ... and has had a hard time dealing with those," said Bran. He asked the court to consider the "lower end" of the four to six month sentence requested by the Crown.

Betsina addressed the court in a soft voice and said he wanted to "change my life around."

"I hope you follow through with your plans to deal with your alcohol problem," said Judge Robert Gorin.

Betsina was given a total of four months in jail, a five-year firearms prohibition, two years probation beginning after his release from jail and must submit to a DNA order.

"You have to get the message that you have to keep your hands off her," said Gorin of Betsina's continued assaults on the victim.