We now know how a Nunavut man died in a cabin on Roaches Lines almost four years ago.
But whether it was murder or a case of self-defence is up to a jury to decide.
Thirty-year-old Bernard Otuk died due to a loss of blood flow to the brain, caused by a choke hold.
A choke hold that the Crown, in its opening address to the jury, says went too far.
“He killed him and went beyond what was reasonable,” said co-prosecutor Robert Roche, calling it a preventable tragedy. “What are the limits of self-defence?”
Crown attorneys Robert Roche (left) and Tim O’Brien speak with the victim’s parents in Supreme Court on Tuesday. (VOCM News)
It’s alleged the victim “got aggressive’ with the accused, 34-year-old Patrick Sularuyok, who applied the choke hold to “get him under control.”
They and another man, on leave from their fishing vessel in Bay Roberts, and fueled by booze and cocaine, were in a cabin at Hillside Cottages at the time, on June 22nd, 2021.
Police were called around 9 p.m. that night and arrived to find Otuk dead on the floor; Sularuyok was charged the next day with second-degree murder, but has been mostly free on conditions since then.
Meanwhile, the third man in the room, a key Crown witness and only eye-witness, has been picked up in Iqaluit on an arrest warrant and unrelated charges.
The wheels are now in motion to fly him to St. John’s to testify.
The judge and jury trial before Justice Peter Browne resumes tomorrow and is expected to last a month.
Roche and Tim O’Brien are appearing for the Crown while Danny Vavasour and Bob Buckingham are co-counsel for the defence, which has yet to present evidence.
