SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A 30-year-old man has been charged with murder after an alleged assault at a Dettah home Wednesday left Herman Abel dead.

Stanley Abel Jr. was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Ruth McLean on Thursday afternoon, keeping his head bowed in the prisoner's dock.

As he was lead away to courthouse cells, several people in the public gallery called out to him, saying "I love you Stanley."

He is next scheduled to appear in court this afternoon after being placed on conditions not to contact two witnesses.

Police have released few details about what happened inside the 309 Dettah home in the community of 250.

In a news release Wednesday prior to the man's death, RCMP spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko stated the force's major crimes unit was investigating an "aggravated assault" which left the man "grievously injured."

Sturko declined to elaborate on the nature of the injuries the man sustained.

Police had been called at about 4:12 a.m. to a report of a disturbance. Officers arrived and found the injured man who was transported by ambulance to Stanton Territorial Hospital. He died late Wednesday evening.

The suspect had fled from the scene, Sturko stated. Abel Jr. was arrested at a residence Wednesday afternoon in Yellowknife.

Sturko stated that no other suspects were being sought. She said the victim and man arrested were known to each other.

The house in Dettah where the incident happened, which appeared to be a single storey home with an attached garage, was still under watch by an RCMP officer early Wednesday afternoon.

A pair of blue gloves, like those used by paramedics, could be seen discarded outside the home by the roadway.

A Facebook account in the name of Herman Abel had a growing number of condolences on its profile photo. The age of the deceased could not be confirmed by press time.

The man's death is the first homicide in the region this year.

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