‘Let’s not give up hope’: Slain teen’s family braces for long wait for justice

Elisapee Sheutiapik plans to bring community together when court returns; Jopey Atsiqtaq remains in custody on 2nd-degree murder charge

Elisapee Sheutiapik holds a framed photo of her sister Mary Ann Birmingham outside the Iqaluit courthouse Tuesday. Jopey Atsiqtaq is charged with second-degree murder in the 1986 killing of Birmingham, who was 15 years old. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

By Jeff Pelletier - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The man accused in the 1986 killing of Mary Ann Birmingham won’t return to court until 2025, leaving the late Iqaluit teen’s family feeling frustrated by the delay but determined to remain strong.

“I have been hopeful, continue to remain hopeful and [realize] it might be a long process,” Elisapee Sheutiapik, Birmingham’s sister, told reporters after Jopey Atsiqtaq’s brief court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

“But I really got bummed when I realized it’s already happening — another delay.”

Atsiqtaq, who is in his early 60s, is charged with second-degree murder in Birmingham’s death. Tuesday was his second court appearance since his Sept. 24 arrest.

He appeared in Iqaluit court by video conference from the Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility, where he has been in custody since he was arrested.

Sheutiapik, a former Iqaluit mayor and MLA, was surrounded by family and supporters for Tuesday’s appearance which lasted about five minutes.

Atsiqtaq has not yet entered a plea.

Acting Chief Justice Susan Cooper set a date of Feb. 11, 2025, for Atsiqtaq to return to court.

There was a sigh of frustration and some tears from people in Sheutiapik’s row in the courtroom when they heard the next court date is more than three months away. The group shared some hugs after leaving the courtroom.

Sheutiapik said it was difficult to see Atsiqtaq on the video screen, and she said she refuses to say his name.

“I won’t give him the benefit,” she said.

For the February court appearance, Sheutiapik plans to bring the community together for an event to honour her sister, who was 15 when she was killed, and to support others who are also grieving.

“There’s so many people out there that could be suffering, silently triggered, and I know some of them families because they’re reaching out,” she said.

She described having a feeling of relief in the month since news of the arrest spread across Canada, but also a sense of what turned out to be “false” security on learning Atsiqtaq was out on parole at the time of his arrest.

“We were always told he’d be in jail, never released,” Sheutiapik said.

Atsiqtaq had previously been charged in Birmingham’s death, but the charge was dismissed following a preliminary hearing.

In June, he was granted day parole after spending more than three decades in prison for two other 1986 Iqaluit murders, according to a decision from the Parole Board of Canada.

Sheutiapik said one of her younger sisters met Atsiqtaq in Ottawa at one point over the summer, not realizing it was him until he appeared in court Sept. 25.

The next step involves more waiting.

“Let’s not give up hope,” Sheutiapik said.

“I’m trying to be hopeful that this won’t be a long process, trying to remain positive because that’s what kept us, I guess, taking all these steps forward all these years.”

 

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(1) Comment:

  1. Posted by legaleagle on

    You won’t have to give up hope if the courts did their job in Iqaluit and ignored Federally mandated catch and release programs. As a society if we cannot lock up murderers let alone repeat murders then things have to change back to how they used to be. You commit a crime you pay the price. For the cry babies who think otherwise let’s see how you feel if it were you who lost a loved one at the hands of a murder who will ultimately end up doing 3-5 years for taking an innocent human life. AGAIN

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