.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The woman charged with aggravated assault after a Ndilo elder was beaten in her home on Jan. 15, and later died, pleaded guilty to two charges of breach of probation.

Alice Joyce Nitsiza, 43, currently in custody at the Fort Smith women's facility, did not appear in territorial court on Tuesday. Defence lawyer Peter Fuglsang entered pleas on Nitsiza's behalf - guilty to two charges of breaching court conditions. Nitsiza will be sentenced for the two offences on Aug. 5, the same date her preliminary inquiry is scheduled to take place.

The inquiry is set to continue on Aug. 6 for the charges of aggravated assault and one breach of court conditions from the Jan. 15 incident. Marie Doctor, the Ndilo elder that Nitsiza is charged with assaulting, died in hospital three weeks after the assault occurred at her home.

Man relocates to B.C. after charge

One of the two men charged in connection with a drug raid at the Yellowknife Airport last December was given permission to reside in Kelowna, B.C., on Tuesday. Brad Baker, 36, is charged with two counts of trafficking. He appeared in territorial court to request he be allowed to leave Yellowknife to live with his brother. Baker must abide by new conditions, which include a $4,000 deposit to the NWT territorial court, reporting to Kelowna RCMP weekly, no contact with co-accused, Robert Howie, 58, and must not possess drugs or weapons.

"He's already deposited his passport with the RCMP here in Yellowknife," said defence lawyer Kelly Payne.

Judge Christine Gagnon granted the request for the new condition. Baker is next set to appear for a preliminary inquiry on Aug. 13. According to RCMP, approximately one kilogram of cocaine was seized during a drug raid on the airport's Navigator restaurant on Dec. 24.

Lawyer not happy with handling of client

Defence lawyer Mike Gannon spoke out in territorial court on Tuesday to protest the treatment of one of his clients, who Gannon said was taken into custody and not given access to legal council. Gannon said it took five days for him to be informed that his client had been picked up by RCMP on May 14, and his client had already appeared before a justice of the peace by then.

"There was no counsel made available to (my client) that day," said Gannon. "He was put in a position where he could not fairly represent himself."

The accused faces two counts of breaching court conditions. His case was set to June 2.