North

Gameti chief's trial on wasting caribou meat wraps up in Behchoko

The Crown and defence have different opinions as to who was responsible for a dozen caribou carcasses found abandoned on N.W.T.'s Hottah Lake in April 2013.

Decision in case expected May 29

The N.W.T. Department of Environment and Natural Resources said some of the meat found wasted at Hottah Lake in 2013 was suitable for food, including legs above the knee, rump, ribs and backstraps. (N.W.T. Department of Environment and Natural Resources)

The Crown and defence have different opinions as to who was responsible for a dozen caribou carcasses found abandoned on N.W.T.'s Hottah Lake in April 2013. 

Gameti Chief David Wedawin and band councillors Frank and Jimmy Arrowmaker are each charged with 12 counts of meat wastage.

Lawyers made their closing arguments in the trial in Behchoko on Tuesday.

Witnesses have testified that the accused gave some of the 20-30 caribou they killed to three other men, Leroy and Daniel Drybones and Leon Wellin.

The Crown argued Tuesday that Wellin and the Drybones never agreed to take all of the remaining caribou. The men said they didn't have enough room in their sleds.

The Crown said the responsibility for the caribou left on the lake lies with Wedawin and the Arrowmaker brothers.

The defence said the accused made a deal with Wellin and the Drybones that they could keep the rest of the caribou if they cleaned up the site, and argued that deal passed responsibility for the caribou carcasses to Wellin and the Drybones.

Judge Brian Bruser will hand down his decision on May 29.