Murder charge laid in Kugaaruk

JOHN THOMPSON

Police have charged a Kugaaruk man with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a five-year-old girl.

Shawn Kayaitok, 20, is also accused of having anal sex with the girl’s dead body.

The dead girl was found in a shed in Kugaaruk on the morning of March 10, 2006. Police spent several weeks interviewing more than 100 people before they arrested Kayaitok.

During the time of his arrest, Kayaitok already faced charges of sexual assault and buggery, which allegedly occurred on January 14, 2006.

Like the five-year-old girl’s name, the name of the complainant in that case may not be published because of a publication ban.

The charge of buggery was later stayed, but Kayaitok still faces the sexual assault charge. He is scheduled to stand trial by judge and jury in Kugaaruk during the next circuit court visit, on June 7, 2006.

Kayaitok was scheduled to make his first appearance for the murder charge in court on Thursday, April 6, after the Nunatsiaq News press-time this week.