Nunavik Full Gospel minister aquitted on sex charges
After a two confused years of delays, an evangelical minister in Nunavik has been aquitted of sex charges involving a minor.
MONTREAL — Two weeks ago in Salluit, Quebec court Judge Daniel Bédard acquitted Lucassie Kanarjuak, aged 53, of Ivujivik, on charges relating to sexual offenses with a minor.
The charges related to incidents said to have occurred between April 1987 and March 1990 with a boy with who was a minor at the time.
Kanarjuak, a former evangelical minister and shop owner, had been arrested in November, 1997 and charged with sexual interference, incitement to sexual touching, and sexual assault.
Kanarjuak pled guilty to these charges in January, 1998 at a court appearance in Puvirnituq.
But in May, 1999, Kanarjuak told Bisonnette in Puvirnituq that he hadn’t correctly understood the charges and hadn’t intended to plead guilty.
Kanarjuak’s case was subsequently transferred to the Ungava Bay court for new proceedings. After two missed court appearances, an arrest warrant was issued for Kanarjuak.
But at the most recent court sitting in Salluit, the complainant said that due to an accident on a four-wheeler he was no longer willing or able to testify against the accused.
Without the complainant’s testimony, the crown prosecutor lacked the needed evidence to prove the charges, so Kanarjuak was acquitted.
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