Sentences for violent deaths handed down in POV

Last month, the two men responsible for the death of Qaunnaq Uqaituk, 19, who died of severe blows to his head in the early hours of Oct. 11, 2001, received their jail sentences in Puvirnituq.

Charlie Quara, 31, and Kaitak Alaku Qumaluk, 23, appeared before the travelling court where Quara was sentenced to 14 years in jail and Qumaluk to 12 years in jail.

The two had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter. They have already been in preventive custody for three years, so their sentences were reduced by six years each. They could be eligible for parole in a year and a half.

Levi Novalinga, 36, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Elisapi Assapa on June 14, 2003. Novalinga, who was intoxicated at the time, had argued with the victim and shot her with a 12-gauge shotgun. Novalinga received a sentence of nine years less twice the time he has already spent in preventive custody.

Qatsiak Sivuarapik, 27, was also sentenced to seven years, less twice the time he has spent in custody since the stabbing death of Joanassie Tukalak, 25, on Oct. 9, 2002. Sivuarapik stabbed Tukalak in the chest following an argument over a woman.