Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 18/02) - It's been two and a half years since Shoatee Joannie's battered and lifeless body was found in his Iqaluit home.

Just a week after his September 1999 murder, police told News/North they had suspects in the case. A woman claims to have witnessed the murder, but no one has been arrested and all Joannie's family has are unanswered questions.

"The RCMP is doing nothing now," said Annie Joannie, the victim's sister. "They are just going after bootleggers and drug dealers when there are bigger cases like murder."

Shoatee Joannie was 39 years old when his life was cut short. His body was discovered on Sept. 25, and an autopsy performed in Toronto revealed he died from "blunt force trauma" -- police jargon for beaten to death.

The family does not know what the murder weapon was.

"Same questions, same answers," says Jeannie Sagiatook, another sister. "Just keep in touch, we're doing the best we can."

But the Cape Dorset woman who says she witnessed the murder and knows who the killers are now fears for her life. According to the woman, who wants to remain anonymous, police do not believe her story.

The woman said she and another woman were drinking at Joannie's residence one night in late September. She said she felt "very drunk" and decided to leave before becoming sick.

According to the woman, Joannie stood outside as she left and said: "You take care now."

She said two men approached the house, one of them was carrying a crowbar. "One of them asked if his girlfriend was still in there."

"They ran up the stairs and started hitting him right away ... I ran and ran as fast as I could," she said, sobbing over the phone. "They were both in a jealous rage."

The woman doesn't remember the exact date. "It's been quite a while. I've been trying to get that straight. I was more likely drinking."

She said she found out either the next morning -- or the morning after that -- that Joannie was dead.

She told police last October and went on local radio two months ago with the same story. At the time, she said she was living in the Cape Dorset women's shelter because she feared for her life.

The woman said one of the men she saw attacking Joannie is a man who showed up at her house last week.

"He's crazy. I don't know why they haven't arrested him. I fear for my life. I fear for my daughter's life," she said.

When Annie Joannie heard the woman's story on radio, she called police. "They said they checked it out and the dates didn't match," she said. "But they aren't even sure exactly when he was killed ... her story sounds so true."

Cpl. Andy White of the RCMP's major crimes division, did not have time to discuss the case at length due to another emergency.

When asked about the woman's story, he said: "That matter has been explained to the family -- you should check your facts a little bit closer."

News/North asked if he thought the woman has another motivation for telling this story.

"Who knows why people do what they do? I don't want to try and figure out what is in her mind," replied White.

He called the family's frustrations completely understandable, but pointed out that "the matter is still under investigation. We still have suspects. We have identified a number of persons."

In the meantime, Joannie's relatives continue to wait for justice and to find out what truly happened that night.

"He was a very gentle guy," said Annie Joannie of her brother. "He was never aggressive. That was his problem. He was the nicest person, always inviting people over. He was a pussycat.

"That's why I was so shocked. Whoever did that to him didn't know him. It's breaking my heart that there's someone out there still free. It's terrible."