Not an appealing week

Nunavut Court of Appeal was canceled on Feb. 12 because of a two-day blizzard in Iqaluit. Two appeal cases were postponed.

Crown Counsel is appealing Justice Howard Irving’s not guilty verdict last year in the case of Nanulik MLA James Arvaluk. Arvaluk was acquitted of assault causing bodily harm against his then-girlfriend in Coral Harbour in Aug. 26 2000. The Crown is appealing the June 2001 ruling based on alleged errors in law and fact made by Justice Irving.

Arvaluk represents Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet. He was Nunavut’s minister of education until his arrest in the fall of 2000.

Convicted sex offender Edward Horne is appealing his five-year sentence for 20 sex-related charges. Jim Brydon, Horne’s lawyer in Yellowknife, says Justice Virginia Schuler failed to consider the six years Horne spent in prison on other sex-related charges.

Horne, a former teacher and principal, was convicted of sexually assaulting children from 1975 and 1983 when he was employed by the department of education in the Northwest Territories.

New appeal dates had not been set by press time.