Nunavut MLA, spouse, appear in court to face assault charges

Nunavut cabinet minister Fred Schell and his 28-year-old common-law spouse, Ezevallu Qatsiya, each of whom is charged with assaulting the other, made first appearances in court May 4 in Iqaluit

Each spousal partner is charged with assault in relation to an incident alleged to have occurred this past April 10 in Iqaluit. The charges were laid April 12.

The charges were not read in court, and a court date has been scheduled for June 4 to give Schell and Qatsiya time to find and talk to defence counsel.

The two accused showed up a few minutes after the scheduled 9:30 a.m. sitting. Schell wore a blue tracksuit and Qatsiya sported blue jeans and a grey jacket.

The couple, who have two children, exchanged no words inside the courtroom.

Schell, 59, the MLA for South Baffin, represents Cape Dorset and Kimmirut in the legislative assembly.