Suspect in Iqaluit teen’s death makes court appearance

Mark King Jeffrey, 22, appeared briefly at the Iqaluit courthouse before his transfer to a jail outside of Nunavut this week.

It was Jeffrey’s first appearance since police charged him with first-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 6 murder of Inuksuk High School student Jennifer Naglingniq. Jeffrey had been in a segregated cell at the Baffin Correctional Centre since March 23.

The department of justice is moving Jeffrey to another facility for safety reasons, said Ron McCormick, director of corrections for the Government of Nunavut’s justice department.

McCormick would not comment on Jeffrey’s new location and said only that the move was to occur by April 11.

Jeffrey waived his right to appear with his lawyer Susan Cooper during his April 8 court appearance. Instead, he sat in a courthouse holding cell.

Several dozen friends, family members and spectators waited patiently for a glimpse at the prime suspect in Naglingniq’s death.

Only those who stood in the courthouse hallway received a quick peek at the handcuffed man whose sweatshirt hood and ball cap hid most of his face.

During his exit from the courthouse, Jeffrey’s mother hugged him and told him to read the bible.

Jeffrey’s next court date is June 3.