A Pelly Crossing woman who pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week left home at the age of 12, Yukon Supreme Court heard Friday.

Christina Asp, 27, became a street person at a very young age, defence lawyer Ed Horembala said.

Behaviour is governed to some extent by what you see, hear and experience as normal in your own life, he said.

'Living on the street and stealing isn't normal,' Horembala told the court.

'Frankly, she didn't have much of a chance to turn out as a responsible citizen.'

Asp entered her guilty plea Friday for the Feb. 21, 2004 stabbing death of Keith Blanchard, 28.

Asp and Blanchard were in an 'on-again, off-again' relationship which Crown prosecutor Michael Cozens described as volatile and marked by verbal abuse.

The pair had each been charged with assault against the other, but neither had been convicted.

The night Blanchard died, the pair had been arguing in the bedroom at a friend's house.

During the argument, Asp stabbed Blanchard with a 13-inch butcher knife that penetrated about six inches into his chest, according to an agreed statement of facts.

When the RCMP arrived at the house, at around 9:46 p.m., Blanchard was still conscious. He later died in ambulance, however, while enroute to Mayo.

Asp was sexually abused as both a child and as a teenager, Cozens told the court.

'There is no question she suffered sexual trauma and sexual assault as a youth and as a teenager,' he said. 'There is no question there were drinking problems in the relationship �- between Ms. Asp and Mr. Blanchard.'

There was violence on both sides of the relationship, he added.

Horembala also stated that Asp has a drug and alcohol problem. Twice while out on bail, she was unable to stop herself from drinking, he said.

She has the potential to rehabilitate, though, he said.

'It would appear she has not only potential, but considerable ability,' he said, based on letters of support in which Asp was described as 'caring and compassionate' and a 'good worker.'

'(There is a) reasonable prospect to believe she can get through this and become a useful citizen,' he said.

Victim impact statements from members of Blanchard's family were read out in court by Crown witness co-ordinator Jonelle Hoffman.

As she read the words of his mother and two sisters aloud, people throughout the courtroom began to cry.

'I always felt safe and protected when he was around,' Blanchard's mother wrote. 'Keith was told he was to be the provider and the protector,' the document said, as her husband had died in recent years.

She said she has suffered health problems since Blanchard was killed and has trouble breathing sometimes when she thinks about him.

'I can't sleep good. My mind is constantly spinning to nothing.'

Her statement ended on a note of hope, though.

'I believe I will put things back in place slowly but surely.'

One of Blanchard's sisters wrote, 'emotionally and physically, he's still here, it seems.'

The other wrote that she sometimes feels like Blanchard is just out of town and that he'll be coming home again soon.

'He was the brother who was always supposed to be around, forever,' she said.

Horembala suggested a sentence of four years minus the credit Asp will be given for time already served.

This would make his total suggested sentence around 28 months in length.

The Crown recommended four to six years' jail time for Asp.

Asp did not speak throughout the hearing, except to enter her guilty plea in the morning.

Horembala read out a letter of apology Asp had written to Blanchard's family.

Presiding Justice Ron Veale asked him to clarify that Asp did not want to read it herself.

The letter individually addressed members of Blanchard's family.

'Forgiveness is a difficult matter. Especially if that person took the life of your first-born son,' the letter said. 'I didn't mean to take away your son and brother.'

'I hope that one day you'll forgive me. I will understand if you don't. I am just asking for forgiveness one day.'

Veale told the court he will deliver his sentence Friday.