Nunavut Mountie murder trial delayed

The trial of a Nunavut man charged in the 2007 killing of an RCMP officer will be delayed, as lawyers debate the admissibility of some evidence.

Pingoatuk (Ping) Kolola, 39, is charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 5, 2007, shooting death of Const. Douglas Scott in Kimmirut, a community located on Baffin Island.

Kolola's jury trial was scheduled to start Nov. 2 in Kimmirut.

But during a hearing Friday, Nunavut court Justice Robert Kilpatrick said he will set a new trial date once issues surrounding the admissibility of certain evidence are sorted out.

Kolola's attorney, Andrew Mahar, told the court Friday that he might challenge the admissibility of statements Kolola gave to RCMP.

Mahar also suggested his client was not given timely access to a lawyer.

The court heard an application from the Crown to move the trial, citing no available facility in Kimmirut.

Mahar argued that the trial could be held at the local school gymnasium over the summer.

Justice Robert Kilpatrick told the court that the trial would likely take place in Iqaluit.