Accused killer to be tried on 1st degree murder

Mark King Jeffrey, the man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl in Iqaluit more than a year ago, will stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder.

Jeffrey, 23, appeared in court March 24, at the end of a lengthy preliminary inquiry.

He’s charged in connection with the death of Jennifer Naglingiq, 13, whose body was found in the first few minutes after midnight on Dec. 6, 2002, at house 2230-B in Iqaluit.

Crown lawyers John Solski and Marion Bryant first began presenting evidence in an Iqaluit courtroom on Dec. 1, 2003 when Jeffrey’s inquiry got under way.

The inquiry was delayed at least once to wait for the arrival of witnesses from the South.

After hearing arguments on March 24 from the Crown lawyers and Jeffrey’s lawyer, Susan Cooper, Justice Robert Kilpatrick found there is sufficient evidence to go ahead with a first-degree murder trial.

A court order prevents the publication or broadcast of any evidence given at the preliminary inquiry.

Lawyers will return to court April 8 to set a date for Jeffrey’s trial.

The news of Naglingniq’s death on December 6, 2002 overshadowed a vigil held at Inuksuk High School to mark the 13th anniversary of the 1989 Montreal massacre.

Staff at Inuksuk High School, where Naglingniq was a Grade 8 student, worked round the clock after her death to provide emotional support for the school’s 460 students.

After police arrested, charged, and then released one man in connection with Naglingiq’s death, many residents became increasingly impatient with the RCMP’s investigation into the crime.

Jeffrey was finally arrested and charged with first-degree murder in late March, and has been held in custody since.