Man charged in Puvirnituq woman’s death

A 37-year-old Nunavik man is now in custody in Amos after being charged with manslaughter following the death of a woman in Puvirnituq.

Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Benoît Richard said people in Puvirnituq first started to search July 8 for a missing woman.

They later found her body on the tundra about four kilometres from the village, Richard said.

Her death was later confirmed by medical personnel in Puvirnituq, he said.

The investigation into the woman’s death was transferred to the SQ’s major crimes unit, which worked on the investigation with members of the Kativik Regional Police Force and the SQ’s Abitibi-Temiscamingue investigative unit.

“They were able to proceed to the arrest of the woman’s common-law spouse on July 10,” Richard said.

Josie Amittu, 37, was charged with manslaughter on July 11 in Amos and he remains in custody until his next court appearance, he said.

The body of Sarah Irqu Novalinga, 45, has been sent to Montreal for an autopsy.