Jaw hearing commences

AARON SPITZER

IQALUIT – The preliminary hearing in the murder case of Salomonie Jaw got underway in Iqaluit on Wednesday.

Jaw is being held on first-degree murder charges following the shooting death of RCMP Const. Jurgen Seewald in Cape Dorset on March 5.

The hearing is a chance for the Crown to convince Justice Robert Kilpatrick that enough evidence exists to take Jaw to trial.

Crown prosecutor Judy Hartling said she intended to call about 10 witnesses during the hearing, which was expected to last three days.

During the first day of the hearing, Jaw sat attentively, studying the Crown’s exhibits, whispering to defense attorney Sue Cooper, and sipping water from a plastic cup. He sat unshackled during the proceedings, wearing a blue T-shirt and sweatpants and keeping his long black hair pulled back.

Though the proceedings were open to the public, according to a court order the media cannot release information about who testified at the hearing or what was said.