Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (May 01/01) - A 23-year-old Rankin Inlet man been sentenced to more than 13 years in a federal penitentiary.

Yvo Airut Jr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the strangulation death of Joachim Tartuk, 41, in Rankin on Dec. 18, 2000.

Airut Jr. made the plea during an April 23 sitting of the Nunavut Court of Justice in Rankin Inlet.

The Crown and defence lawyers then submitted a joint recommendation of 14 years to Justice Beverly Brown.

She accepted the submission, but deducted eight months for time already served.

Airut Jr. will not be eligible for parole until he serves at least half of his 13-year, four-month sentence. He also received a lifetime ban on possessing any firearm or ammunition.

During her sentencing, Brown recommended that Airut Jr. be tested for fetal alcohol syndrome.

Airut Jr. was emotional during sentencing, breaking down in uncontrollable tears after apologizing to the court for his actions and promising never to drink again.

The officer in charge of the Rankin Inlet RCMP detachment, Sgt. Tom Kasdorf, said all fatalities concerning alcohol are unique. The victim was brutally beaten and had part of his head shaved before being strangled to death.

"I've seen a lot of murders during my time on the force and they're all brutal in their nature," said Kasdorf. "Ones involving alcohol, however, tend to be unique. When a person is under the influence of alcohol to that degree, you'll never know what their thought process was at the time."

Kasdorf said local RCMP members are satisfied with the verdict in the case.

He said the sentence was one of the longest ever imposed in Nunavut for a manslaughter conviction.

"We're happy we did our job to the point where he (Airut Jr.) pleaded guilty to the charge and the Crown did an excellent job in handling the case," said Kasdorf.

"I think both families involved are glad a decision has been reached and the matter is finally over."