Life sentence for wife killer
Kugaaruk man who murdered spouse with broken mop handle must serve at least 15 years
Laura Busch
Northern News Services
Published Monday, April 7, 2014
KUGAARUK/PELLY BAY
A Kugaaruk man convicted of murdering his common-law spouse by stabbing her twice with a broken mop handle has been sentenced to life in prison and will serve at least 15 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Bruce Kayaitok, 37, has been in custody since the murder on June 13, 2008. The name of the victim is being withheld to protect the identity of her children.
While handing down one of the heaviest sentences in Nunavut history, Justice Earl Johnson said his decision was influenced by Kayaitok's repeated history of violence against his wife, along with the gruesome nature of the crime.
"Mr. Kayaitok was sober when he stabbed (the victim)," Johnson said, according to a transcript from court proceedings March 25 in Kugaaruk. "In the reasons for the conviction, I found that he was fully aware of what he was doing when he stabbed her twice with a broken mop handle and then continued to beat her with it as she fled to the living room with her femoral artery severed. She bled to death within minutes."
Kayaitok then attempted to cover up the crime by hiding the murder weapon and sopping up blood before taking the victim to the local health centre.
The sentence is among longest periods of parole ineligibility ever imposed in the North. It matches the minimum term handed down in a Yukon murder case in 2006, where the offender was also given a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 15 years.
Johnson said he chose to focus the sentence on deterrence rather than restorative justice because of the heinous nature of the crime.
"The imposition of a longer period of parole ineligibility is one way that this court can express its disapproval of the epidemic of spousal violence in this territory," Johnson said. "Hopefully, it will deter others in the future."
Kayaitok had numerous past convictions for assaulting his spouse. Yet despite numerous warnings from the court he had failed to seek available treatment for past trauma and drug and alcohol addictions.
"While being a victim of sexual abuse as a child helps to explain why Mr. Kayaitok developed anger issues, which fuelled his addiction to alcohol and drugs, he must accept responsibility for not taking steps to deal with them," said Johnson.
"He had many warnings about his toxic relationship with the deceased but took no steps to deal with it."
Kayaitok was first charged with assault against his murder victim in April 1994, when he was 19 years old and she was 14.
He was convicted of assaulting her two more times between 1997 and 2003.
In September 2005, he was convicted of assaulting her and causing her bodily harm.
"The offender abused, controlled, and terrorized her for a significant portion of her short life," said Johnson.
On Nov. 8, 2006, he was convicted of assault for punching her in the face and arms. During sentencing for that crime, Justice of the Peace Sidney Rodnunsky gave Kayaitok an ominous warning.
According to a court transcript submitted by the Crown, "the Justice of the Peace specifically warned Mr. Kayaitok if he continued his behaviour ... 'he could end up with a murder charge and a 25-year sentence,' and advised him, 'You don't want to get into a situation like that. Violence isn't the way.'"
The life sentence with 15 years without parole does not mean Kayaitok is likely to be released after that deadline, explained Johnson.
"Setting this period of ineligibility for parole does not mean that Mr. Kayaitok will be paroled after the period expires," he said. "It simply entitles the offender to be considered for parole after this period of time has elapsed.
"The decision as to when and under what circumstances Mr. Kayaitok will be released will be decided by the National Parole Board. That board will only release him if they are satisfied that he does not present a significant risk to the community."
In order to ever qualify for parole, Kayaitok will need to change his ways, he said.
"In order to satisfy this threshold, Mr. Kayaitok will have to work hard within the penitentiary by taking programs and services appropriate to his needs to demonstrate that he is ready for parole. He will have to address some of his deep-rooted psychological problems and ongoing substance abuse or he will not be released."
Although Nunavut does not have an addictions treatment centre, many residents receive treatment from southern institutions, said Johnson.
The sentence takes into account the time Kayaitok has already spent in custody awaiting his sentence.
Johnson noted that, as a remand prisoner, Kayaitok has not been eligible to receive counselling services and take advantage of other restorative programs and added he hopes the offender chooses to take advantage of the services that will be provided to him in the southern penitentiaries where he will serve his sentence.
