Abuse and Alcohol NEVER ACCEPTABLE even with CMT

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http://www.muskoka-news.com/MuskokaNews/article/130716

Huntsville man gets 30 days for vicious assault

March 11, 2009 - by Sitler

A vicious assault on his spouse has earned a Huntsville man a further 30 days

jail time and a 10-year weapons prohibition.

The incident happened between Feb. 24 and 25 in the house that Ray Knott, 67,

resides in with his wife.

Bracebridge court recently heard that the couple, who have been married 43

years, had gone to a friend's home for dinner on Feb. 24. Prior to dinner, the

pair had bought a large quantity of alcohol, court was told.

Following dinner, the couple returned home and Ray Knott continued drinking.

Court heard that Knott struggles with severe physical difficulties and can

barely move at the best of times. On this occasion, however, he was still able

to consume most of a 40-ounce bottle of whisky and become enraged at his wife,

court was told.

Besides being verbally abusive, court heard that Knott smashed items around the

home and followed his wife up to a bedroom where she had taken refuge. There, he

was said to have struck her on her left shoulder with a cane.

Things simmered down a bit around 1 a.m. on Feb. 25, but his wife awoke at 5

a.m. to the sounds of Knott's yelling.

Court heard that she packed a bag and left the home at this time, returning a

short while later.

Between her leaving and return, however, court heard that the accused called

police and told them his wife had taken the van and that she was intoxicated.

Police arrived soon thereafter and found her sober.

It was then that the victim told police of the assault and they soon found Knott

inside the home " very agitated and verbally abusive, " said Crown attorney Carol

Trivett.

" It took them an hour to get him dressed and put in the cruiser, " she added.

Judge found Knott guilty of assault. Knott had last been before the

courts in June, on charges of assault and careless storage of a firearm.

Court also heard that Knott relies on his wife to take care of him, due to his

deteriorating physical condition, a disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease,

which is a group of progressive disorders that affect the peripheral nerves that

connect the brain and spinal cord to muscles.

Trivett acknowledged his hardships, but reminded court of the old saying: " don't

bite the hand that feeds you. "

" He was still able to chug down a 40-ounce bottle of whisky, " she said. " This

can't continue. He's not permitted to be an ugly drunk towards his wife and

assault her. "

sentenced Knott to the seven days pretrial custody he'd already served,

plus a further 30 days in jail.

Knott is also to see a doctor immediately for his health conditions, another of

which is sleep apnea.

also ruled that Knott is further prohibited from possessing a weapon for

10 years and is also to provide a sample of his blood to police for DNA

registration.