Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Apr 28/04) - A Rankin Inlet man has been charged with second degree murder in the stabbing death of his common-law partner during a domestic dispute at their residence this past Friday (April 23).

Adrian Shimout VanEindhoven, 30, was charged in Rankin Monday, following an intensive three-day investigation.

Alcohol is believed to have played a role in the disturbance.

The RCMP were called to a residence at about 7:30 a.m. on April 23. At the home, they found a woman in urgent need of medical attention.

The woman was transported to the Rankin Inlet Health Centre where she was pronounced dead a short while later.

The victim is Leanne Irkootee, 22, of Rankin Inlet.

Sgt. Grant St. Germaine of the Rankin Inlet detachment of the RCMP said an investigation team from Iqaluit's Major Crimes Unit, V Division, in Iqaluit, as well as forensic-identification specialists from Iqaluit and Edmonton, Alberta, were dispatched to Rankin Inlet to aid the local detachment in its investigation.

"The autopsy on the victim's body was performed this past Monday afternoon, April 26, at the medical examiner's office in Edmonton, Alberta," said Germaine.

VanEindhoven will remain in custody until his first court appearance in Iqaluit on May 4. Police continue to investigate Irkootee's death.