Martin says fair trial impossible in CamBay

The lawyer representing Christopher Bishop, the man accused of shooting five people in Cambridge Bay in January, 2007, will seek to have the trial moved to Iqaluit, Nunatsiaq News has learned.

Calvin Martin, Bishop's Toronto-based lawyer, confirmed he'll file a change-of-venue motion, as well as a motion to have Bishop released on bail. It's not known when those motions would be heard.

In an interview, Martin said it's impossible for Bishop to get a fair trial in Cambridge Bay.

"People over there have got their minds made up," he said. "I'd be lucky to get a jury of anybody who doesn't have their mind made up on that issue."

Bishop is accused of killing Kevin Komaksiut, 21, and Keith Atatahak, 28, both of Cambridge Bay, and Dean Cost, 29, of Edmonton. Two other people were shot and wounded in the incident. He's currently in remand in Ottawa.

A preliminary inquiry into Bishop's case was heard in the Nunavut Court of Justice in Nov. 2008. Evidence given at preliminary hearings may not be published or broadcast, but at the time, Crown lawyer Paul Bychok said prosecutors plan to call 20 civilian witnesses and at least six police witnesses during the trial.

Martin said there's been only one side of the story heard in Cambridge Bay.

"I hope we can get it in Iqaluit where there's more of a mix of people who haven't been propagandized by this," he said.

It's also still not clear when a trial would go ahead, but Martin said he'd be ready within a month of his motions being heard. A trial this year is likely, he suggested.

According to Martin, Crown lawyers expect a trial to take four to five weeks.