Iqaluit (Apr 19/04) - Chris Dederick will spend 25 months in prison for manslaughter in the beating death of a 50-year-old Iqaluit man last year.

Dederick, 34, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced April 12 in Nunavut Court of Justice.

In sentencing, Justice Robert Kilpatrick denied an application by the Crown to ensure Dederick served at least half his sentence before he would be eligible for parole.

Dale Pearce, 50, died in an Ottawa hospital after a May 30, 2003, altercation in which Dederick hit Pearce several times on the head.

Alcohol was a factor in the altercation.

In his judgment, Kilpatrick said the fight is an example of how alcohol can affect judgment and make things get out of hand.

"Chris Dederick was drinking in the early hours when his luck ran out," Kilpatrick said. "It was a senseless argument. Nobody remembers what it was about and nobody cares. Dale Pearce's death was unnecessary."

Kilpatrick noted Dederick has shown remorse for his actions and is taking steps to stop his drinking. While in custody, Dederick participated in three elder programs to help him overcome his drinking problem.

Tupik program

Dederick was sentenced to 25 months at Fenbrook Medium Security Institution in Ontario. While at the facility, Dederick has to enrol in the Tupik program, which was designed to help Inuit deal with their dependency problems.

Kilpatrick said he sentenced him to a federal institution because there are more programs there to help him deal with his alcohol abuse.

"The help Dederick needs is not readily available in this territory," he said.