Nunavut court proceeds under tightened security

A preliminary hearing for a 27 year-old accused of manslaughter is scheduled to continue in IqaluitWednesday morning.

The hearing began Tuesday a day later than expected after Nunavut's senior judge, Justice Robert Kilpatrick, postponed it over concerns that there was inadequate security for the safety of people in the courtroom.

The preliminary hearing is for Colin Makpah, who is charged with manslaughter in the death of DJ Gamble in Rankin Inlet in August 2010.

On Tuesday, the stairwell to the second floor of the courthouse, where the courtroom is located, was locked all day. Instead, everyone had to take an elevator near the security desk.

Outside of the courtroom a sheriff used a metal detector to screen everyone going inside. An RCMP officer was also in the courtroom all day.

When the accused, who is not in custody, entered he had to pass the victim's family, who were holding photos of their dead relative.

Evidence presented at the hearing is under a publication ban. But before proceedings began, Justice Andy Mahar told the court, "Security concerns have been taken care of for today only. There are ongoing discussions."