Inuvik man pleads guilty in beating death

An Inuvik, N.W.T., man will serve less than five years in jail, after he pleaded guilty to beating another man to death at a local hotel over a year ago.

Claude Harry, 37, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Monday in connection with the death of Angus Kikoak, 45, in December 2009. Harry was originally charged with second-degree murder.

According to a statement of facts read aloud in court, Harry and Kikoak were drinking at a hotel room party in Inuvik when Harry became angry and disruptive late in the evening. Other guests asked him to leave.

Harry eventually attacked Kikoak, punching him at least six times in the face. Court was told that the assault on Kikoak was so violent that it caused bleeding of the brain and ruptured an artery.

Harry has 21 previous convictions, 19 of which are for violent crime. The attack on Kikoak was described in court as completely unprovoked.

N.W.T. Supreme Court Deputy Justice Rene Foisy called the attack senseless, but said Harry's guilty plea was a mitigating factor in sentencing.

Foisy also allowed Harry to receive double credit for the time he's served in custody. As a result, Harry has three years left in his sentence.