Nunavut-based artist now facing four charges of assault

Iqaluit artist Jonathan Cruz pleaded not guilty to four assault charges in an Iqaluit courtroom June 4, after Nunavut’s Crown office dropped four of the eight charges the man faces.

Cruz’s lawyer, Alison Crowe, entered the pleas before Justice of the Peace Nicole Sikma on behalf of Cruz, who did not appear in court June 4.

Cruz now faces four charges of assault stemming from four incidents alleged by a single complainant to have occurred over three years, from 2013 to 2015, according to court documents.

Four other charges of overcoming resistance to commit a crime have been dropped by the Crown.

Cruz, well known in Nunavut as a mural, hip-hop and design artist, first appeared in a Nunavut court on these charges on April 30.

Sikma granted Crowe’s request to have the four remaining charges facing Cruz transferred from the Justice of the Peace court to the Nunavut Court of Justice.

Crowe made the request because she anticipates issues with evidence at the trial stage, the court heard.

Cruz’s case goes before the Nunavut Court of Justice again on June 15 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.