Husband arrested, charged with second degree murder, then released a day later

An Iqaluit man was charged with second-degree murder this past Monday, then released less than 24 hours later after Crown prosecutors stayed the charges.

Amos Ootoova, 46, was arrested after police found his wife, Della Ootoova, lying on the floor of an Iqaluit residence during the early morning hours of June 7.

RCMP said paramedics took the woman to Qikiqtani General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

But late Monday, the RCMP issued a news release saying the charge against Amos Ootoova was stayed after police consulted with the Public Prosecution Service and the investigating pathologist.

Police didn't say why the charge was dropped, only that "the investigation into the matter was still ongoing."

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Mike Toohey would not give details, but said officers had probable cause to arrest Ootoova for murder.

"In consultation with the Crown and the pathologist who conducted the autopsy, it was… decided that charges would be stayed based on all the new evidence that had been gathered," Toohey said this past Tuesday.

Toohey stressed the charges have not been dropped. Authorities have one year to reactivate charges against Ootoova.

If that doesn't happen the charges would then be dropped, Toohey said.

Ootoova was released after a court appearance June 9. A court date originally set for July 8 is now cancelled, Toohey said.

A call to the Crown prosecutor's office wasn't returned by deadline.

In an interview Monday, Toohey wouldn't say where in Iqaluit the death took place.