SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife woman accused of obstructing justice was ordered to stand trial in Supreme Court after it was determined March 24 there was sufficient evidence to proceed in the case against Marie York-Condin, 48.

Judge Robert Gorin granted Crown prosecutor David McWhinnie's request for a media publication ban on all evidence and submissions given during the hearing and a publication ban protecting the identity of the complainant. However, Gorin rejected defence lawyer Michael Danyluik's request for a ban prohibiting the publication or broadcast of the accused's identity in the media.

According to York-Condin's court file, she is charged with wilfully attempting to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice in an ongoing investigation by "wilfully attempting to dissuade" another individual "by threats, bribes, or other corrupt means from giving evidence in an ongoing investigation."

The alleged offence is said to have occurred between Oct. 22, 2009, and Jan. 27, 2010.

The accused first appeared in territorial court on Aug. 10, 2010 to speak to the charges. She is on extended leave from her position with the Yellowknife RCMP, according to Cpl. Wesley Heron, media relations officer with the RCMP's "G" division.

At press time, it hadn't been determined when York-Condin would be back in court to set a date for her trial in Supreme Court.

If found guilty, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

$344,000 for courtroom renovations

The GNWT has budgeted $344,000 for renovations to territorial courtroom No. 2 in the Yellowknife Courthouse, according to Cameron Wilson, manager for regional projects for the GNWT's Department of Public Works' North Slave regional office.

A request for tenders published in February 2010 reads the courtroom needs upgrades to "esthetics, security, acoustics and technology." This includes "demolition, gypsum board, acoustic ceiling, carpeting, millwork, furnishings, painting, mechanical and electrical" work. Wilson told Yellowknifer on March 25 that a contractor has yet to be selected, and it wasn't known when construction work would begin.

The public tender closed on March 4.

Arrest order for woman accused of fraud

A Yellowknife justice of the peace issued an arrest warrant March 2 for a former NWT Mine Training Society financial officer who has once again gone missing from the court process. Monica Audrey Casaway, 49, was scheduled to appear in an Edmonton courtroom in January to enter guilty pleas to one count of fraud and eight counts of knowingly using forged cheques totalling $18,039. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between Aug. 17 and Nov. 12, 2007.

Agreeing to enter guilty pleas was a requirement of having the charges transferred from the NWT to Edmonton, where Casaway is believed to be currently residing. However, she did not show up for court in January, according to a Feb. 2, 2011 letter in Casaway's court file from Alberta Justice, so the case has been transferred back to the NWT again.

An arrest warrant was also issued almost three years ago on May 8, 2008, when Casaway failed to show up for a court appearance after being charged with the offences a month earlier. The police were unable to locate Casaway for more than two years until she showed up at the Yellowknife RCMP detachment and turned herself in on Aug. 8, 2010.

She was released on the same day after posting $400 bail, and a month later, had her bail amended to allow her to reside in Edmonton so long as she regularly reported to the RCMP.

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