Pond Inlet man charged in Iqaluit homicide appears in Nunavut court

A 19-year-old Pond Inlet man charged with second-degree murder following events that led to an apparent standoff in Iqaluit over the Canada Day weekend appeared in court on Tuesday, July 16.

Wayne Panipakoocho appeared before the court for the first time via video conference from the Baffin Correctional Centre, where he has been held in custody since June 30.

Police charged Panipakoocho with second-degree murder after they were called to a house in Iqaluit’s 2600s area early on the morning of June 30, where they found a man in medical distress.

The man was taken to Qikiqtani General Hospital, where he died shortly afterward.

Panipakoocho is also connected to allegations of break, entry, theft and arson, police said, after a number of firearms were stolen from a location in Apex.

Lana Walker, a lawyer with the Legal Services Board of Nunavut, represented Panipakoocho at his court appearance, but he still doesn’t have a permanent lawyer.

“Your honour, we’re just working on counsel assignment on this matter still,” Walker told Justice Earl Johnson.

The court agreed to have Panipakoocho reappear Aug. 13 at 9:30 a.m. to give Walker’s office time to assign a lawyer to him.

Dennis Ipeelie, 36, of Iqaluit, was also taken into custody after the June 30 incident.

He is held in custody at Baffin Correctional Centre and was also scheduled to appear July 16 via video conference.

Ipeelie did not appear via video conference. It is unclear why, but Ipeelie’s lawyer, Alison Crowe, hinted at her client’s frustration.

“I don’t blame him for being frustrated. This is a case in which he would like to resolve his matters,” Crowe said.

Crowe told the court she has had “numerous discussions” with Ipeelie.

Ipeelie faces nine charges in total, including arson and breaking and entering. Crowe told Nunatsiaq News she is not in a position to comment further on the charges Ipeelie faces or why Ipeelie did not appear.

Crowe told the court she had been advised that Crown prosecutor Barry McLaren is not available until later in the month, so Ipeelie’s appearance would have to be pushed back.

“I would just like to note for the record that Mr. Ipeelie was, in principle, prepared to resolve these matters this week,” Crowe said.

The court scheduled Ipeelie’s next appearance for Aug. 13.