Sex assault suspect kept behind bars

Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Pangnirtung (July 25/05) - A man charged in connection with a brutal sexual assault will remain behind bars until his next court appearance.

Tommy Nuvaqiq, 23 of Pangnirtung appeared before justice of the peace Alexina Kublu in Iqaluit last Monday, on charges of attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and break and enter.

The charges come in connection with a June 20 attack on a social worker.

In court, he faced three new charges in connection with a separate incident in Iqaluit.

Those charges include two of break and enter and one of resisting arrest and attempting to hide in connection with incidents on Oct. 12, 2004, and Jan. 29 and 30, 2005.

Nuvaqiq's appearance was relatively brief. Nothing said at the hearing can be reported.

Wearing a blue shirt and black shorts, he was quiet throughout the hearing, occasionally whispering with his defence counsel, Chris DeBicki.

Nuvaqiq is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 24.

The victim was originally flown to hospital in Ottawa.

She has since been transferred to the Queen Elizabeth II health centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to be closer to her family.

The woman is in good condition, with stable vital signs.

According to the hospital, she is conscious, and comfortable.

She was working in Pangnirtung for Northern Property Real Estate Investment Trust, connecting families with vacant housing.

She was staying in an empty Northern Property house - with some of the windows boarded shut - when she was attacked.