Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 29/99) - Angus John Ekenale, 54, will stand trial for the 1971 homicide of Elizabeth Rose Yendo.

In a preliminary inquiry in Yellowknife court, Judge Brian Bruser ruled that the Crown produced enough evidence to warrant a charge of manslaughter in the death of the Wrigley woman.

Following two days of testimony from sometimes emotional witnesses, Crown attorney Loretta Colton concluded the Crown's case against the former Wrigley resident.

Colton's final witness broke down on the stand and was later taken to hospital before defence attorney James Brydon could cross-examine. Brydon requested a mistrial, but was denied by the judge when Colton asked the witness' testimony be excluded from his decision.

The Crown had held a previous preliminary inquiry into Yendo's death in 1991, but the court ruled there was not enough evidence to warrant a trial against Ekenale.

RCMP say when eyewitnesses came forward in 1997, the case was reopened.

Judge Bruser also ordered Ekenale to stand trial on charges of obstructing justice and indecent assault as well as two more recent charges of sexual assault.

Ekenale will be held in custody until a court date is set. He has elected to be tried by judge and jury in Supreme Court.