SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man convicted of two counts of assault and a breach of probation was sentenced to seven-and-a-half months in jail in territorial court Sept. 10.

Brian Jerome pleaded guilty to the assault charges. Citing his lengthy criminal record consisting of 62 prior convictions and 16 violent offences since 1980, which included two stints in a penitentiary, Judge Bernadette Schmaltz said Jerome is "well on (his) way to being considered a dangerous offender."

Dangerous offenders are sentenced to imprisonment until they are no longer deemed a high risk to commit violent or sexual offences.

In the early evening of May 25, Jerome was walking down the street when he grabbed a woman by the hair, pushed her face into the cement and threatened to kill her.

He was arrested and ordered not to have contact with the victim. Two weeks later, he attacked the same woman in the downtown Reddi Mart convenience store, punching her seven times.

Schmaltz referred to Jerome's alleged statement to the victim that she would "get it worse" if she reported the incident to police, noting he "tried to pervert the court of justice through threats."

Calling rehabilitation "an almost insurmountable if," Schmaltz said Jerome has to decide to change and realize he's out of control.

Bail granted for man to attend school

A man charged with assault with a weapon who has already paid tuition for classes successfully pleaded to stay out of jail until his trial.

The 40-year-old man is accused of threatening his girlfriend with a pocket knife and chasing her to a neighbour's house. He is also accused of theft under $5,000 and breaching probation, both relating to an incident at the downtown liquor store on Aug. 27. As well, he faces a charge for creating a disturbance in Fort Smith on Sept. 6.

Also facing charges of possessing a weapon and uttering threats, the man appeared in territorial court Thursday for a show cause hearing.

The man told the court he had already paid a year's tuition for classes at the Native Women's Association, where he hopes to upgrade his skills. He is scheduled to begin classes next week. He also said he was awaiting wrist surgery on Sept. 15.

Judge Bernadette Schmaltz agreed to release the accused on a $500 bond but warned him if he breaches probation again, he likely wouldn't be released.

Schmaltz told him to keep his life on track while he awaits his next court appearance on Sept. 29.

Close of blood flicking trial delayed

The closing arguments in the trial of a woman accused of spraying her blood at a police officer were pushed back for two weeks due to the accused's health problems.

Ebony Maitland's trial was scheduled to finish on Sept. 11 but she didn't show up for court. Her lawyer Jay Bran said she was ill and intended to seek medical treatment in hospital.

Maitland is facing charges of assaulting a police officer and mischief. The charges relate to an incident on July 6, 2008. Maitland is alleged to have flicked blood onto the face of an RCMP officer when he asked to see her injured wrist. The trial is scheduled to continue Sept. 25.