Nunavut RCMP investigate homicide in Iqaluit

(updated 9:30 a.m., Oct. 24)

Nunavut RCMP launched yet another homicide investigation in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, after Sangani Osuitok, 50, died at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.

Police said Osuitok was found at unit 2219B just before midnight Oct. 21 with life-threatening injuries. He died of of those injuries in hospital just after 1:00 a.m. Oct. 22.

In an Oct. 24 update, the RCMP said a 21-year-old woman who had been taken into custody in connection with the incident has been released without charge.

Police said in the same release that the incident at 2219B is “isolated” and that “there is no additional concern to other citizens as a result of Mr. Osuitok’s death.”

An autopsy for Osuitok was scheduled for Oct. 24 in Ottawa.

Osuitok, a well-known carver, was the son of the late Osuitok Ipeelee of Cape Dorset.

In 1998, Osuitok was convicted in a jury trial of sexual assault in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Lawyers attempted to appeal the verdict, on the grounds that Justice John Vertes did not correctly instruct the jury on the concept of reasonable doubt.

But the NWT appeal court dismissed their appeal and in 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal the earlier decision.

(More to follow)