Sylvia Lyall remembered inaccurately

I very seldom write to the media or public figures. But matters of the heart have stung me and my loved ones hard.

In reference to the Sept. 17, 2004 edition of Nunatsiaq News, your reporter incorrectly described a couple of facts about my dearly deceased sister, Sylvia Lyall.

To begin with, he reported in the July 2, 2004 edition of Nunatsiaq News that Sylvia was 41: this fact is correct. Yet, in the Sept. 17 edition, he states that she is 44. The inconsistencies in reporting material in the matter of just 77 days implies that your reporter needs to do more research and verify his facts before they are in print.

More importantly, he describes Sylvia as the wife of the accused murderer, when, in fact, Sylvia was NOT the wife, common-law or otherwise to her accused murderer.

Another matter I wish to point out is that when I was in Iqaluit days after my sister was murdered, reporter Greg Younger-Lewis contacted me for a lengthy telephone interview. There was no mention of what I told him in your July 2 edition. This was especially disturbing because he was quite persistent in his questioning and here I was, dealing with something beyond my belief.

The importance of correct reporting and description means all the world to our family and can make a difference in the perceived perception that exists around this very unfortunate situation.

By the way, we did fly kites in 30 below, 40-mile-an-hour winds…

Kathy Meyer
On behalf of the Lyall family
Iqaluit