Suspect appears in court
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Mar 12/01) - A man charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a police officer appeared in the Nunavut Court of Justice Friday.
Const. Jurgen Seewald was shot dead March 5 when he responded to a domestic dispute. Salomonie Jaw, 46, from Cape Dorset, surrendered later that evening after the house he was in was surrounded by police officers.
Jaw said he understood the charge and sat back down beside defence counsel Sue Cooper.
The matter was set over to April 3 at 9:30 a.m. to give RCMP officers the opportunity to supply Crown counsel Richard Meredith with evidence relating to the matter. Meredith will then forward that information on to Cooper.
Neighbours were shocked by the incident.
"He was a quiet fellow ... I've never saw any trouble from him before," said Don Oliver.
Seewald, 47, responded to the call at about 2 a.m. on March 5. Although details are sketchy, Seewald was shot during a struggle.
The only other RCMP officer in town was called shortly after and took Seewald to the health centre where he died. Before she arrived at the residence, the suspect fled but later returned to the house.
Police from Iqaluit weren't able to land until 6 a.m., due to fog at the airport. The 15 officers located the suspect in the home and a standoff ensued.
During the day, people remained indoors. The town virtually shut down during the stand-off. Residents said public radio announcements aired police requests for the suspect to give himself up.
