Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (May 03/99) - Less than a week after Mary Deschenes was charged with the murder of her common-law husband, Gilles Ghislain Bergeron, the 39-year- old Iqaluit resident was released on bail, pending a May 25th court date, where she is expected to enter a plea.

And while Deschenes has been permitted to spend her days awaiting her second-degree murder trial outside of a prison cell, the terms of her bail, as set by Nunavut's Court of Justice last Wednesday afternoon in a courtroom packed with supportive family and friends, are strict.

As well as being prohibited from consuming or possessing any alcohol, Deschenes, the mother of three children, is not permitted to attend the Legion, the Tulugaq Bar or the lounge in the Navigator Inn.

She must submit to random breathalyser tests at the request of the RCMP and she must also report to the police every Monday and every Friday between the hours of 9-5 p.m.

Deschenes must reside at house 1400, the residence of her daughter and her son-in-law, and while staying there, no firearms are permitted to be stored in the household.

Finally, Deschenes must personally not possess any firearms or knives except for those necessary to the preparation of food.

A cash deposit for the bail was not required, but if any of the terms of Deschenes' release are violated, the matter will come back before the court and because her daughter volunteered surety, she could be required to pay $5,000 for any such violation made by her mother.

Police say the findings of an autopsy report confirmed that Bergeron died of a single stab wound to the chest. RCMP Const. Kevin Craig said no additional information would be released.

"What we've released to date is basically all we can release without hampering the investigation," said Craig.

At least 16 RCMP officers have been involved in investigating Iqaluit's first murder in three years and numerous people -- including neighbours, family and friends -- have been interviewed by the police.

"Basically, anyone around town who could have had contact with (Deschenes and Bergeron) surrounding the circumstances."

Craig also revealed that police had responded to a previous call involving the couple at their house just two weeks before the murder was committed.

"There was one incident before," he said. "I really can't comment, but they were both known to police."

He added that the investigation at the residence -- the scene of the April 23 murder -- had been completed and the unit was no longer cordoned off.

At present, friends and family have declined to comment on the matter.