Brothers sentenced after leaving Nunavik woman’s body 6 months in an apartment
Decision shows ‘how little our justice system thinks women matter,’ family spokesperson says
Francesco Sansalone, left, and Nicodemo Sansalone leave the courtroom in Montreal on Monday. They were sentenced in the case of Alasie Tukkiapik, whose dead body was left in their Montreal apartment for six months. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)
The police and court’s handling of the case of a Nunavik woman whose dead body was left inside a Montreal apartment for six months was “egregious” and unnecessarily stressful for her relatives, a family spokesperson said Monday.
Laura Aguilar speaks on behalf of Alasie Tukkiapik’s family, saying that criminal charges against two men since her death, havebeen difficult for the family, and that there is some respite now that the judicial process to be over. (Photo by Cedric Gallant, special to Nunatsiaq News)
“The next time an Indigenous family goes to report someone missing, is this going to just keep happening?” asked Laura Aguilar outside court in Montreal, after two brothers were sentenced in connection with the death in 2023 of Alasie Tukkiapik, 41, originally from Kangiqsujuaq.
In addition to acting as a spokesperson for Tukkiapik’s family, Aguilar is a researcher at the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, based in Guelph, Ont.
Judge Pierre Labelle read the circumstances of the case in court before sentencing brothers Nicodemo Sansalone and Francesco Sansalone for offering an indignity to human remains.
Tukkiapik had been in a relationship with Francesco Sansalone for 10 years and shared an apartment with the brothers. It’s not clear how long she had been living in Montreal.
In early 2023, her family became concerned for her welfare but when they visited the Montreal apartment they were told Tukkiapik was not there.
In September that year, her family filed a missing-person report with the Nunavik Police Service.
When Montreal police investigators went to the apartment, no one answered the door. But while they were interviewing neighbours, Nicodemo Sansalone was seen leaving the apartment.
The officers stopped him and spoke with him. He admitted Tukkiapik had died and that he and his brother had left her on a couch inside their apartment with a blanket over her.
Francesco Sansalone was arrested a month later and faced two charges.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglect of human remains, but pleaded guilty to offering an indignity to human remains.
On Monday, he was sentenced to 10 months of house arrest, plus two years probation and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
Nicodemo Sansalone also pleaded guilty to offering an indignity to human remains. He received a suspended sentence of 70 days’ incarceration — meaning he won’t serve jail time if he abides by the terms of the three-year probation, which was part of his sentence.
Labelle said Tukkiapik had been ill and neither she nor the Sansalone brothers wanted her to seek medical attention. When she died, the brothers panicked, fearing the reaction of her family and the police.
The judge said both brothers were suffering from mental health issues and that Francesco’s “capacity of introspection is limited.”
He noted Tukkiapik was living in a violent environment and that Francesco specifically targeted vulnerable women such as her to take in.
The judge said that because of the state of Tukkiapik’s body when it was discovered, a cause of death could not be determined. But there was no evidence that the brothers had caused her death.
On Monday, Labelle said Tukkiapik’s family — who were present for the brothers’ sentencing — showed a lot of courage in testifying about her positive character.
Alasie Tukkiapik’s family embrace outside the courtroom where brothers Nicodemo and Francesco Sansalone were sentenced in Montreal. The two men pleaded guilty to offering an indignity to human remains after leaving Tukkiapik’s dead body on a couch for six months in 2023. (Photo by Cedric Gallant, special to Nunatsiaq News)
“She was a sister, a daughter, and a member of the community,” Labelle said. “I can only hope you will find solace.”
Speaking to Nunatsiaq News afterward, Aguilar said, “The decision today speaks to how little our justice system thinks women matter.”
She said, “That matters so little that these brothers don’t even get a prison sentence.”
Aguilar said the experience has been hard on Tukkiapik’s family: “Today marks the closure of the legal process, it does not mark the end of the healing journey.
“All of us who were impacted by this case got the chance to know Alasie’s family, and it is very clear that her memory will live on.”
This is disgusting… How did she die? Peacefully? I doubt it! She was killed by her abusers and just like always a dangerous Predatory man targeting vulnerable women repeatedly and they get to walk away like it’s no big deal. My ex did the same thing and he’s going to keep getting away with using and abusing vulnerable women… Its repulsive! My life matters and men like these and my ex keep going through the courts with a pattern of abuse and it just keeps happening…..
This woman died, I almost died… How many more have to get beaten or killed before things change to protect people better?
This sentence is a joke; obviously, the life of this woman has no value in the eyes of the justice system
Sad , what happens to inuks , who move down south.
The judge said both brothers were suffering from mental health issues and that Francesco’s “capacity of introspection is limited.”
It’s okay guys. It was just their mental health. Goodness.
Why didn’t the judge incorporate some sort of way to address those mental health issues? They clearly aren’t going to address those issues on their own, and they have had a horrific affect on others.
Such terrible mental health issues that they live free, independently, & will continue to do so despite being a danger to the community. Their mental health was so bad they couldn’t muster the courage to acknowledge the woman on their couch for months. Their mental health was not so bad that they could continue to grocery shop, & live about their daily routines while managing to avoid the couch??
They will continue to open their doors, & prey on Inuit women.
She was sick and they didn’t want her to get treatment? Why? And how did she die? Justice system is trash. Clearly they abused this woman and controlled her until her last breath. Disgusting.
We all seen her around the streets, while we glanced our eyes, and continue to avert the truth that our elders would have never allowed such rampant poverty. 🤑
with todays forensic capabilities,I’m sure they could put some effort into solving her cause of death. And yes 100% they arw responsible for her death, they neglected to get help,which begs the question,was she even sick,but murdered more likely. shameful how her life ,and death gets swept under the rug. RIP Now❤️
Beyond the pale. Just simply, beyond the pale.
There should be a kiosk at Dorval where they hand out tasers, spray and whistles if this is the kind of thing that happens in this city.
ONLY IF….. THE NUNATSIAQ WOULD PRINT MY POSTS…. BUT I KNOW THEY WILL DELETE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE DELETED MANY OF MY POSTS IN THE PAST. HONESTY HURTS…. WOKENESS IS ALIVE AND WELL…..
The Quebec Court Judge Pierre Labelle said the apparent mental health problems listed in a pre-sentencing report prepared for the case of Francesco Sansalone, 63, at the Montreal courthouse played a significant role in determining his sentence. Sansalone received a 10-month sentence that can be served in the community, to be followed by two years of probation. Why do we as Quebecers and Canadians have to pay for other peoples mental illness from another country. I am tired of paying for other people immigrating into our canadian provinces and paying for medication for their mental illness. Its time to start deporting these mental patients back to their birth countries. Yes, the Quebec Justice is working to help destroy the lives of First Nations, Metis and Inuit living in the Province of Quebec. The sentencing was disgusting and shocking. People with these mental illnesses should be at the Douglas Hospital not living freely in SOCIETY.
Its crazy how her dead body was at the residence for over 6 months and they’re getting a slap on the wrists. No jail time because of their mental health but if it were an Inuk, it would be instant jail time.. justice system is so messed up for them to get away with this death
I’ve travelled to most of the provinces and all territories and the most entitled and racist people I have come across is in Quebec, from Montreal up to Quebec City, it seems to be taught at a early age in this area, it’s so prevalent in lesser form but it also comes out very harsh in your face.
I find it interesting this is rarely exposed, I’ve spoken with other indigenous and non European descendants and a lot of them have said the same, maybe theres a lot of mental illness like these two people.