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Court Briefs Jury trial a challenge in Cape Dorset Peter Worden Northern News Services Published Monday, December 17, 2012
Geetah, whose case was back in court on Dec. 3, has been in jail since his arrest in October 2010. Defence lawyer James Morton said that period in custody is a "significant amount of time for extremely serious charges." A jury trial, however, poses several logistical issues because jury selection requires a pool of close to 200 people from a community of approximately 1,200, as well as a location where the jury could deliberate. The Crown's plan to call a number of civilian witnesses and expert assistance could also prove problematic in the small hamlet, due to the limited accommodations. Justice Robert Kilpatrick will speak to the charges again on Jan. 7. Multiple investigations keep RCMP busy Further police investigation into the manslaughter charge against Alec Petooloosie of Iqaluit is holding up a trial date being set. In late November, the RCMP Major Crimes Unit was inundated with work, first investigating a suspicious death in Hall Beach, and later, a homicide in Igloolik, according to Crown prosecutor Paul Bychok on Dec. 3. As a result, the officers were unable to complete their investigation into the charge against Petooloosie, Bychok said. Petooloosie has been in custody for 11 months. Judge-alone trial likely for former teacher A former teacher from Sanikiluaq will likely be tried by judge alone instead of by jury, based on a discussion among lawyers and a judge in Iqaluit court on Dec. 3. Johnny Meeko is currently in jail awaiting trial on 39 charges relating to sexual assaults against students. The attacks are alleged to have taken place at Nuiyak Elementary School, where Meeko worked from 1973 to 2009. The first charges against him were laid on Aug. 14 of this year. The Crown and defence will meet again Jan. 7 to set a trial date.
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