SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - There were more lawyers than usual in Courtroom 2 as the territorial court used its new video conferencing equipment for the first time on Oct. 19.

"Can you hear everything OK?" Judge Bernadette Schmaltz asked the man on a TV screen who was in custody at the North Slave Correctional Facility.

The new equipment includes two 40-inch plasma televisions costing about $700 each mounted on both sides of the judge's bench. There are also two cameras - one mounted on the right of the judge's bench and the other at the correctional facility - costing about $7,500 each. The judge has a 19-inch television behind the bench and the wiring has been completed for a monitor in the witness box.

Jeff Round, administrator for NWT courts, said the video conferencing equipment is intended for "short appearances" such as entering pleas or setting court dates from the city jail. It will not be used for first appearances or for trials.

Round said it reduces the risk and traffic between the courthouse and the correctional facility because offenders are no longer going to be transported as frequently as before. The trial run of the equipment lasted about five minutes and was used to set a court date.

Judge warns accused about delays

Judge Garth Malakoe had a stern warning for a 40-year-old Yellowknife resident who was supposed to stand trial for assault last week but requested more time and a new lawyer from legal aid.

The woman, charged with assault from a May 9 incident, had been in court July 13. Her case was adjourned to Aug. 3 and then a trial date was set for Oct. 21.

"You've left everybody hanging," Malakoe told the woman, referring to members of the court as well as witnesses ready to testify in the trial. Malakoe added she still has the right to a fair trial.

He adjourned the matter until Jan. 4 at 9:30 a.m. so she can replace her current lawyer Abdul Khan and attend a six-week treatment program in B.C.

"Good luck with your course, but you need to treat this seriously," said Malakoe.

Yellowknife man fined $920 for pot

A 45-year-old Yellowknife man was fined $920 for three counts of possession of marijuana on Oct. 20.

The incidents occurred on May 23, June 6 and Oct. 12. Territorial court judge Garth Malakoe gave the man six months to pay. The offender also faced sentencing for two counts of breach of probation for the June 6 and Oct. 12 offences, which cost him a $100 fine but no additional jail time.

He was also sentenced to a year of probation and is required to take substance abuse counselling.

As well, Malakoe ordered the offender to perform 30 hours of community service at a minimum of 10 hours a month.

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