Crown to appeal Arvaluk verdict

IQALUIT — The Crown has decided to appeal Nanulik MLA James Arvaluk’s acquittal last month on a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

Arvaluk was acquitted of having beaten and injured Sophie Sangoya, his former live-in girlfriend, in a drunken fight Aug. 26, 2000 in Coral Harbour.

Meanwhile, Arvaluk will stand trial in October on another charge of assaulting the same woman in Iqaluit on Aug. 22. Arvaluk was arrested on that charge last fall.

The trial will be held Oct. 18 in Iqaluit.

Aarvaluk represents the communities of Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet. He was Nunavut’s minister of education until being arrested for the incident in Coral Harbour.