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By Madeleine Leclerc

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Lynette Moulton, 37, was sentenced to a total of 90 days in jail when she appeared before Grand Falls provincial court judge Camille Dumas for sentencing on Aug. 26. Moulton was charged with failing on May 24 and 27 and June 26 at Tobique First Nation to refrain from communicating directly or indirectly at all times with Kim Paul and Ciji Perley, a condition of a recognizance made to a provincial court judge; assaulting Kim Paul and causing bodily harm to her on May 27 and uttering threats to Paul to cause death or serious bodily harm to her.

"On May 24, at 3:47 p.m., the RCMP received a complaint from Kim Paul, who with her boyfriend, had gone to visit her daughter, Ciji Perley, and to mow the lawn. Perley and Moulton live near each other. Moulton had yelled and stated she wanted to beat the crap out of her," stated Crown prosecutor Patrick Murchison.

"On May 27, Moulton was driving a green Grand-Am, property of Michelle Augustine. Moulton had no driver's licence. Moulton believed that Paul had reported her to police. She called her a rat and said she would kill her. She then threw a tobacco can at her. A scuffle erupted. Moulton bit and broke Paul's pinkie finger. People broke up the fight. The situation between the two women has been going on for some time," Murchison added.

"The June 26th incident involved the same people. RCMP received a call from Kim Paul who told them that Moulton had yelled obscenities at her and that she would beat her up. The apartments are in close proximity. It was a verbal altercation and no physical contact between the two."

"According to Moulton's pre-sentence report, there seems to be problems which go back quite a ways. It gives a hint how sincere she is in addressing her problems. In her victim impact statement, Paul says that life is unbearable for her and her daughter. There is bad blood. This feud has to end at some point in time," stated Murchison.

"We also have to take into account that the three incidents occurred in a short period of time," he added. "What importance does she attach to what she tells the court? When she sees this woman, all she wants to do is fight her. The Crown has no choice but to request a period of incarceration for her to realize she needs to stop."

"She has pleaded guilty and has enrolled in an anger management program. She is ready to take care of her addiction and anger management problems," stated Legal Aid defence lawyer Maryse Allard. "She is a single mother and wants to take care of her child who is presently with her parents," she added.

"I have learned my lesson," Moulton told the court. "This situation has been an ongoing one between the both of us. She's not perfect. I'm not perfect. I apologized to the victim. It has been hard on me and my daughter. I feel awful about what has happened."

"What is an aggravating factor is the fact that you were on a conditional sentence at the time," stated Judge Dumas.

"I even put a fence up to avoid seeing them and an air conditioner so I would not have to go outside," Moulton stated.

"No matter how high a fence is or how many air conditioners you have, once you mix drugs or alcohol, you lose your self-control," Judge Dumas responded. "It must be pure hell when two neighbours can't get along."

For failing to abide by the recognizance condition on May 24 and 27 and June 26, Moulton was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

On the assault charge, she was sentenced to a 30-day consecutive jail term, as well as a two-year supervised probation period. She must keep the peace and be of good behaviour toward Kim Paul and Ciji Perley. She must attend an addiction program for alcohol and drug abuse as well as an anger management program. She is also prohibited from possessing firearms and explosive substances.

For threatening Kim Paul, she was sentenced to an additional 30-day concurrent jail term.