Outside judge to hear Nunavut Mountie's assault case

The case of an Iqaluit RCMP officer accused of assault will be heard in December by a judge not based in Nunavut.

Const. Kipanik Eegeesiak was charged with two counts of common assault, following a May 16 incident involving two individuals who were in custody at the Iqaluit RCMP detachment.

Appearing before the Nunavut Court of Justice on Tuesday, Eegeesiak's lawyer, Andrew Mahar, asked for the case to be heard by a judge who is not based in Nunavut.

It is standard procedure for an outside judge to hear a cases of charges against a local police officer who has testified in and worked with the local court, Mahar said.

Justice Earl Johnson scheduled Eegeesiak's next appearance for Dec. 17, the earliest date in which both parties can appear before an outside judge.

Eegeesiak has not yet entered a plea on the charges. He was assigned to administrative duties after he was charged.