RCMP ruled out two suspects from Iqaluit manslaughter case

Iqaluit RCMP initially had three suspects in relation to the incident that led to the death of Jimmy Kownirk in 2024 but ruled out two, leaving just 40-year-old Peter Toonoo.

Toonoo is on trial this week in Iqaluit, charged with manslaughter in Kownirk’s death.

One initial suspect, Siuqjju Toonoo, was, in the words of defence lawyer Alan Regel, “eliminated” after a single interrogation. Her mother, Iliya Toonoo, who lawyers said was also an initial suspect, hasn’t faced charges, as Iqaluit RCMP couldn’t reach her.

“I tried to speak with Iliya in the days after the events, but she had gone back to Kinngait. Beyond that, I did try and speak with her,” Const. Peter Lodge said while testifying Tuesday, on the trial’s second day. Peter Toonoo is the only person to face criminal charges for Kownirk’s death.

Toonoo was arrested on the night of June 6, 2024, after Kownirk was found with what police called “severe injuries” and medevaced to Ottawa.

At the time of the incident, Lodge, who made the arrest and who was leading the investigation, treated the incident as an assault. But a few weeks later, when he learned Kownirk died in an Ottawa hospital, the case became a homicide, Lodge testified.

Kownirk died because of “bleeding into his skull due to trauma,” said Dr. Philippe Laflamme, a pathologist who did the autopsy, in response to a question by Crown prosecutor Leo Lane on Tuesday.

On Monday, the trial’s first day, Kownirk’s niece Minnie Saqiqtaq testified she went to her uncle’s house on June 5, 2024, with a few cans of beer.

While Kownirk slept in his bedroom, Saqiqtaq and the three Toonoos — Iliya, Siuqjju and Peter — drank in the living room, Saqiqtaq said.

Around 10 p.m., Saqiqtaq left the house as the Toonoos moved on to hard liquor, she testified. But shortly after she got a message from her uncle’s neighbour, Ningeogapik Davidee, who told her there was a fight and her uncle was injured.

“I was angry. Cause they did something to my uncle,” Saqiqtaq said in her testimony, referring to all three Toonoos.

Saqiqtaq accused the three Toonoos of harming her uncle when the RCMP officers arrived at the scene just after midnight, Lodge said when asked by Toonoo’s lawyer, Regel.

Shortly after the incident, Lodge interrogated Siuqjju Toonoo. He said she had denied harming Kownirk, who was her boyfriend at the time.

She had also told Lodge that she feared Saqiqtaq would harm her, to which Lodge suggested Siuqjju Toonoo should talk to Saqiqtaq, he testified.

“I suggested that Siuqjju could tell her [Saqiqtaq], she didn’t beat up Jimmy — as she told me — and maybe Minnie wouldn’t be so angry at her,” Lodge told the court.

Regel suggested by doing that, Lodge was not following RCMP training and was risking witnesses “contaminating” each other’s testimonies.

“I’m going to suggest to you that the RCMP never ever suggested to you that when one witness is fearful of violence from another witness, that she should go and share her story,” Regel said.

Lodge said he didn’t remember such training.

On Tuesday, the court also heard from several more testimonies, including from Kownirk’s neighbours Jeanita Ashoona and Annie Davidee, who testified that they saw a fight between Kownirk and Peter Toonoo.

The trial is set to continue Wednesday.