Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 11/02) - A second woman has come forward saying she has information about an unsolved 1999 murder.

This revelation follows a Feb. 18 News/North story in which a woman from Cape Dorset said she saw two men beat Shoatee Joannie with a crowbar.

Joannie, 39, was found dead in his Iqaluit home on Sept. 25, 1999. He had been beaten to death.

Despite pleas from family to police for information about the murder, the crime has gone unsolved.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, said police don't believe her story. According to Joannie's sister Annie, police said her evidence doesn't match the crime.

"They said ... the dates don't match," said Annie Joannie for the Feb. 18 story. "But they aren't even sure exactly when he was killed ... her story sounds so true."

Now, a second woman, also from Cape Dorset, says one of these same men referred to a similar beating in her presence. Police have yet to interview this woman.

She told News/North she was watching television about seven or eight months ago with the man and another woman. They were watching a show where a man, beaten and bloody, was medevaced to hospital.

According to the woman, the man told her he did something like that too.

"He said 'There was blood all over me, so I threw away my brand new shoes because they were all bloody.' That's what he said."

The woman said he didn't mention Shoatee Joannie's name.

The second woman who was reportedly present when the man confessed to beating someone told News/North that she did not remember the incident.

Cpl. Andy White, of the RCMP's major crimes division, said police can't comment specifically on the details of the case.

"All information we've received has been thoroughly investigated. At this stage in the game, no one has been charged with this offence," he said.

He previously told News/North that police do have suspects in the case.

White said police are asking the public again for assistance.

"If there's anything they recall surrounding this event, we'd be appreciative of any calls or information. Crimestoppers is available, people can make calls anonymously. Cash rewards are given out for anonymous tips," he said.

"This is an ongoing investigation. It's not a closed file."

White added the RCMP is currently re-analyzing information they have received.