Iqaluit (Nov 15/99) - RCMP members have followed leads to Cape Dorset in their quest to nail down exactly who murdered Iqaluit resident Shoatee Joannie in late September.

Two officers from the Iqaluit detachment joined Cape Dorset members two weekends ago to conduct interviews with residents of the community.

"In doing our routine follow-ups some of the people we needed to talk to were in Cape Dorset and it was easier for us to go there," said Sgt. Mike O'Malley.

"We sent over two officers who have a strong working knowledge of the file."

Nearly two months have passed since Joannie was found murdered in his home on Sept. 29, and police have yet to make any arrests in the case.

As they wait for the results from DNA testing being done on bloodied clothes and other items taken from the murder scene, O'Malley says they are hoping the results will prove to be conclusive.

"Right now we haven't had any word back from the lab, but they said by mid-month they would have some information. We'll be getting hold of them shortly and requesting an update."

Joannie, who died from "blunt force trauma", was Iqaluit's second murder of the year.