SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man who stabbed another man in the chest sobbed as he told territorial court last Wednesday how sorry he felt, and how his actions have played on his conscience.

"It weighs really heavy on me, on my shoulders," said Roland Modeste, 31, his voice wavering and his words interrupted by sniffles.

"I'm sorry. I apologize for everything that happened."

Modeste received nine months in jail for assault causing bodily harm stemming from an incident on April 12.

Modeste and the stabbing victim were drinking at a party and an argument erupted as they spoke about a woman, according to Crown prosecutor Angie Paquin. As the argument heated up, the other man grabbed a chair and hit Modeste over the head with it, giving him a cut.

Modeste went to the kitchen to clean the wound and grabbed a knife while he was in there. Seeing the knife, the other man fled the house with Modeste in pursuit. They started to wrestle on the front lawn, and Modeste cut the man's chest in the fray.

The cut was deep, according to the agreed statement of facts, but defence lawyer Stephen Shabala said the victim has recovered and is not suffering lasting health effects.

Paquin told the court she was concerned for public safety if the offender wasn't handed a jail sentence.

"This is a case where deterrence and denunciation is so important that custody is necessary," she added.

Shabala said Modeste intends to seek alcohol counselling and has already attended some sessions at the Tree of Peace and at the Healing Drum.

Judge Robert Gorin said he gave Modeste credit for the guilty plea, even though it came on the eve of the trial.

"You're lucky that you didn't kill him," Gorin warned. "I'm not going to sentence you for something you could have done, but I'm going to take into account the risk."

Modeste's jail time will be followed by six months of probation and a five-year firearms prohibition. As part of his probation, he must take any counselling his probation officer directs him to take, including alcohol abuse and anger management programs. He is also to be given access to these programs, if they are available, while jailed.

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