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IQALUIT - Pingoatuk Kolola, accused of killing RCMP Const. Doug Scott in Kimmirut in November 2007, is scheduled for a five-week trial by jury to begin in November 2009.

Kolola, who has been charged with first-degree murder, appeared in court May 13. Lawyers on both sides of Kolola's case still have a few details to hammer out before he can go to trial, so his next court appearance is in Iqaluit on June 15.

Kolola has been in custody since his arrest.

Man designated a dangerous offender

A man convicted of eight sex crimes and many other charges has been designated a dangerous offender and may spend the rest of his life in a secure psychiatric institution.

Jimmy Partridge is a diagnosed pedophile and schizophrenic who often refuses to take his legally-required medication, according to the judge's decision. Some of his sex crimes involved a victim as young as two-years-old.

In a decision released May 13, Justice Robert Kilpatrick wrote Partridge has been in and out of institutions for the last 14 years and is no longer capable of living independently. Kilpatrick also stated the Government of Nunavut does not provide enough resources to treat the mentally ill before serious problems develop.

"More citizens will likely follow Jimmy Partridge unless there is a sustained commitment to properly resource early therapeutic intervention and long-term support options for Nunavummiut in need," he wrote.

Crown seeks dangerous offender designation

A Baker Lake man facing 15 charges of sexual assault and 15 charges of sexual interference is being evaluated for dangerous offender status.

Keith Avaala was ordered last week to be assessed by a psychiatrist who will file a report that lawyers may use to argue to the judge whether Avaala is a danger to society.

Dangerous offender status means if Avaala is convicted on his charges, the Canadian justice system may keep him in custody for the rest of his life.

Preliminary hearing set for Iqaluit sex attack

The man charged with a sex attack that terrorized Iqaluit last September is scheduled for a preliminary hearing this October.

A woman was sexually assaulted behind Inuksuk School at 8:45 p.m. Sept. 8 by a man disguised in black. The victim was hospitalized with multiple injuries.

The attack was one a cluster of sex assaults in Iqaluit that took place in September and October, which resulted in RCMP warning women to be cautious when walking alone.

Jimmy Nowdlak is charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual interference with a minor and wearing a disguise with intent to commit a crime.

Businessman pleads not guilty to bootlegging

Stuart Kennedy pleaded not guilty May 13 to five violations of the Nunavut Liquor Act.

Kennedy, an Iqaluit businessman and former city councillor, is charged with two counts of unlawfully possessing liquor, two counts of keeping liquor for sale and one count of selling liquor.

Kennedy was arrested in October 2008 in connection with the police's discovery of 466 flats of beer in a local warehouse.