Ivan Kilabuk Joamie made a brief court appearance Dec. 19. The 24-year-old Iqaluit man is charged in the killing of Jennifer Naglingniq, 13. - Kerry McCluskey/NNSL photo

Police allege that Joamie, 24, killed 13-year-old Jennifer Anna Naglingniq in her home on Dec. 5. Joamie was arrested for the killing at his Iqaluit residence, Dec. 15.

"Ivan Kilabuk Joamie ... it is alleged that you did commit first-degree murder on the person of Jennifer Anna Naglingniq," read Justice Robert Kilpatrick.

A first-degree murder conviction carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The charge is laid when a murder is planned and deliberate or occurs during the commission of another crime, like a hijacking or sexual assault.

Staff Sgt. Mike Jeffrey said police chose first-degree murder based on the evidence and circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Accused showed little emotion

After reading the charge, Kilpatrick asked Joamie if he understood it. Showing little emotion and dressed in a black and grey sports jersey bearing the number 05, Joamie nodded yes.

Kilpatrick then ordered that Joamie remain in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for Jan. 9, 2003.

Where Joamie will spend the next three weeks is unclear, however. In custody at the Baffin Correctional Centre since his arrest, Joamie told Euan Mackay, the defence lawyer currently representing him, that he feared for his safety.

"Ivan brought to my attention threats to his safety and life at BCC," said Mackay.

Police then moved Joamie to the RCMP detachment after his court appearance.

Mackay requested that his client be moved to the Yellowknife Correctional Centre to further protect his safety.

Kilpatrick said he would make the recommendation to corrections officials responsible for that decision.

Though police say they received no complaints about death threats being made against the life-long Iqaluit resident, six police officers were on hand as a handcuffed Joamie was taken into the courthouse through a back entrance.

Doors normally left open were locked prior to his appearance to prevent the large crowd from having close contact with him.

Police also guarded the aisles of the courtroom and wouldn't let spectators sit in the first two rows behind Joamie.

Staff Sgt. Mike Jeffrey said the extra precautions were taken because of the city's mood and the level of "interest" in Naglingniq's murder.

Crown prosecuter Judy Chan asked that a publication ban be issued to prevent media from publishing the names of 14 people Joamie is now forbidden to contact.

More tears were shed at the courthouse as Naglingniq's relatives and peers came face to face with Joamie for the first time since his arrest.

Police continue to be extremely tight-lipped about the events that led to the Grade 8 student's killing and would not explain why an occupied police cruiser sat in front of Joamie's residence 24-hours before his arrest. Jeffrey refuses to say how Naglingniq was killed and will not say who found the slain teen because "The matter is before the courts," he said.

He did say police and medics were called to Naglingniq's residence by a distraught adult shortly after midnight Dec. 6.