Nunavut man in Mountie murder gets 'living death'

A Kimmirut, Nunavut, man convicted of murdering RCMP Const. Douglas Scott in 2007 will soon serve a life sentence behind bars, in a case that the sentencing judge says has profoundly affected others in the territory.

Nunavut court Justice Robert Kilpatrick sentenced Pingoatuk Kolola, 39, on Friday to life in a federal prison without eligibility of parole for 25 years. The day before, a jury found Kolola guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Scott in the remote Baffin Island hamlet.

"For the rest of his natural life, Mr. Kolola will not know true freedom. He will always be watched, whether he is in an institution or out on parole," Kilpatrick told the court.

"The law requires that he be sentenced to a living death, with no possibility for parole for 25 years. Mr. Kolola will be old when he sees parole. This sentence marks the end of living for Mr. Kolola and the beginning of his survival."

'Forever sorry'

Scott, 20, who hailed from the Brockville, Ont., area, was shot in the head as he was responding alone to a late-night drunk-driving call in Kimmirut on Nov. 5, 2007.

Kolola had hoped for a lesser conviction of manslaughter. During his testmony, he did not deny firing the shot that killed Scott that night, but claimed he had meant to scare the officer away.

Kolola's lawyer, Andrew Mahar, told the court Friday that his client does not see the life sentence as a great injustice.

"In the last year that I have represented him [Kolola], he has shown no self-pity and remarkably little interest in defending himself for what he did," Mahar told the court.

"He will be forever sorry for what he did. And finally, he wants the jury and the witnesses from Kimmirut to know he blames no one for this but himself."

When asked if Kolola had anything to say to the court, Mahar said no.

Crown prosecutor Susanne Boucher said Kolola's case speaks to "the devastating mix of alcohol and firearms" that led to Scott being shot. Court has heard that Kolola had been drinking that night, then drove recklessly around Kimmirut with his rifle and his eight-month-old son in the truck.

"This unnecessary act of violence has also created long-standing pain in the hearts of the citizens in Kimmirut," Boucher told the court.

"The witnesses in this case have been deeply affected and scarred by the trauma of being involved in the incident. Most witnesses have either felt responsible for the tragedy or felt that they somehow could have prevented it. And they will carry this with them for a very long time, if not their whole lives."

Jurors paid heavy price: judge

In his own remarks to the court, Kilpatrick said the trial has also affected the jurors, many of whom began sobbing after they delivered the guilty verdict on Thursday.

Seven of the 11 jurors came from Kimmirut, a close-knit community of 400 where Kolola and his family have lived for years. The remaining jurors were chosen in Iqaluit.

Kilpatrick said the court will offer counselling to the jurors, who he said have been traumatized by their participation in the trial.

"They have done their duty, but they have paid a heavy personal price for doing so. They have made one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching decisions of their lives," he said.

"Their lives have been changed by this experience.… This court will do what it can to see that they receive counselling and support services to put their lives back together."

The judge also noted that many families in Kimmirut are interrelated, so "what affects one family, affects many." To help the entire community heal, Kilpatrick suggested that a memorial be built in Kimmirut to honour Scott.

"For the citizens of Kimmirut, the events of Nov. 5, 2007, have damaged the way the community feels about itself," he said.

"The construction of a community memorial to honour this fallen constable's sacrifice would be a good first step in a process of community healing and reconciliation."

Kilpatrick asked the court reporter to send a transcript of the sentencing hearing to Kimmirut's mayor and council immediately.

The judge addressed Kolola directly, saying Kolola allowed his anger to put him in his current situation.

"You are not, sir, a monster, but you are a man who has failed to address your inner demons," Kilpatrick said. "For this, you will now pay a most terrible price."