Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Apr 26/99) - Two Pangnirtung men charged with committing a series of armed robberies and other theft-related crimes, appeared in justice of the peace court last Friday.

Nathaniel Qaqasiq, 19, and Dax Machmer, 24, appeared before Iqaluit justice of the peace Bill Riddell for their show cause hearings.

Charged jointly, but retaining separate counsel, the pair face a total of 16 charges between them.

The pair are charged with two counts each of committing armed robbery, two counts each of wearing a mask while committing the robberies, two counts each of break and enter, one count each of breach of undertaking and one count each of possession of property obtained by an offence.

All of the alleged crimes were committed in Pangnirtung in December, 1998 and January, 1999.

Crown counsel Debra Robinson asked that Qaqasiq remain in custody until his trial because the alleged offences were of a particularly serious nature, but defense counsel Sue Cooper asked that her client be released on bail into the care of his parents while he awaited his trial.

"He has a very supportive family here in Iqaluit and they're happy to have him. He has extended family here...there's a lot of family control here in the community of Iqaluit," said Cooper.

After questioning Qaqasiq's parents on their role in their son's life, Riddell agreed to release him into their custody and issued an undertaking with nine different requirements.

As well as being required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, Qaqasiq must report in person to the RCMP Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between 9-5 p.m. He must abstain from the use, possession or consumption of illegal drugs and alcohol. He must reside with his parents at 322 White Row and obey a curfew of 11 p.m.-7 a.m. The presence of drugs and alcohol at his parents residence is strictly forbidden and the possession or presence of any firearms at that residence is also forbidden.

Qaqasiq must refrain from visiting Pangnirtung or any other community and must not have direct or indirect contact with any of the witnesses or with Machmer. And if he is required to travel to Pangnirtung for court, Qaqasiq must surrender himself to the RCMP in Pangnirtung upon his arrival and remain in custody for the duration of his stay.

Qaqasiq will reappear in Nunavut's court of justice on Tuesday morning to have the matter of his trial date spoken to.

Machmer appeared before Riddell on Friday afternoon, but because his counsel, Peter Fuglsang, is located in Yellowknife and was unable to attend the show cause hearing, the matter was put over to Tuesday morning.

Machmer remains in custody until that date.