Ibey to stand trial for first-degree murder in death of Savanna Pikuyak
Inuk student’s death sent shockwaves through the Algonquin College community
Nikolas Ibey looks on in court as the judge declares Ibey will stand trial for first-degree murder in the death of Savanna Pikuyak. (Sketch by Lauren Foster-MaLeod)
Nikolas Ibey will stand trial for first-degree murder in the Ottawa death last September of Inuk college student Savanna Pikuyak.
A hearing Wednesday morning in the Ottawa courthouse took no more than five minutes as the judge declared that Ibey would be committed to stand trial for first-degree murder.
He will remain in custody until that time. The first pre-trial hearing date was set for Aug. 10.
In court, Ibey glanced around the courtroom at those in attendance. The heavy-set man had his hair combed back and wore an overgrown goatee.
Last September, Pikuyak, 22, moved to Ottawa to attend her first year of nursing school at Algonquin College.
On Sept. 11, 2022, Ottawa police identified her as the victim of a homicide and Ibey, her then-33-year-old roommate, was being held as a suspect.
Ibey was originally charged with second-degree murder, but that was upgraded to first-degree murder on Sept. 29.
Pikuyak, who is originally from Sanirajak, had only been in Ottawa for two days before she was killed.
Within weeks of her death, the Government of Nunavut announced the creation of a scholarship in her memory.
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