Killer released after serving 12 years
Van Eindhoven pleads guilty to manslaughter, expresses remorse
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, July 25, 2016
KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
Expressing extreme remorse, Adrian van Eindhoven has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the killing of Leanne Irkootee, which occurred in Rankin Inlet 12 years ago.
Justice Casimir Herold accepted a joint submission from van Eindhoven's defence lawyer and the Crown of a 15-year jail sentence. Because of time spent in custody since Irkootee's death in April 2004, Van Eindhoven was released on July 15.
"Twelve years ago I woke up in the drunk tank in Rankin and I was informed that Leanne had passed away," van Eindhoven said slowly before Iqaluit court. "I have been beating myself up every day ever since.
"Whenever I wake up in the morning, she's the first thing I think about. When I go to sleep, she's the last thing I think about. I take full responsibility for her murder."
Crown lawyer Caroline Lirette detailed the brutal scene on April 23, 2004 when RCMP attended a residence to find Irkootee with a stab wound and near death.
Irkootee had a large wound to the back of her head, bruising on the left side of her chin, bruises inside her lips, red marks on her cheek, a scrape on her neck and a fatal stab wound that perforated her heart and caused internal bleeding, leading to her death as a result of blood loss.
Van Eindhoven had a superficial injury to his chest after Irkootee allegedly came at him with a knife prior to being stabbed.
Irkootee was tested to have an elevated blood alcohol level, but the RCMP officer at the scene didn't have the authority to test van Eindhoven's blood-alcohol level.
"Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that Mr. van Eindhoven was intoxicated at the time of the stabbing," said Lirette. "In an alcohol-fueled rage, Adrian van Eindhoven inflicted a single and mortal stab wound to Leanne Irkootee's chest while using a black-handled steak knife."
Lirette also read out a victim impact statement from Irkootee's mother.
"My life isn't the same as it used to be before this happened," it read. "My relationship with my spouse and family members isn't as it used to be. My emotional feelings are so strong sometimes, it is so hard not to be emotional."
The statement went on to say "my life is angry, more angry than ever before," that the mother "lost everything, can't forget" and is using alcohol to numb the pain.
Defence lawyer Rob Nuttall detailed some of the circumstances that led to that violent day, saying van Eindhoven had taken to self-medicating with alcohol after he was accidentally shot in the leg by a business partner earlier in life.
"His leg was severely injured, and he continues to be in chronic pain," said Nuttall.
"He wanted to kill both the physical pain and the mental pain."
But between his time spent at Baffin Correctional Centre and elsewhere, van Eindhoven has gotten more in touch with his Inuit culture and spiritual culture, said Nuttall. He has learned to carve, completed his Grade 12 and taken substance abuse and family violence courses.
"He's gone a long, long way," said Nuttall.
Van Eindhoven said he plans on abstaining from alcohol if he gets out and wants to warn young people of the dangers of alcohol and family violence.
"I'm in a lot of pain because of this," he said. "I don't know if I'll be able to forgive myself."
Herold indicated it wouldn't be the worst thing if he couldn't forgive himself.
Van Eindhoven was also given an 18-month probation order and was set to travel to Winnipeg to stay with family. He had previously appealed two convictions of second-degree murder and two life sentences.
