Nunavut girl's murder trial begins

Nearly four years after 13-year-old Jennifer Naglingniq was found murdered in her Iqaluit home, the trial of the man charged with her death got underway Thursday.

Mark King Jeffrey, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the December 2002 death of the Grade 8 student.

'What type of preparation do they have to do? Like, it's not a shuttle launch.' -Jennifer Naglingniq's uncle, Dan Wade

Naglingniq's uncle, Dan Wade, says the long wait for the trialhas taken its toll on the family, especially Jennifer's mother.

"Why does it take four years for this to get started?" said Wade in an interview. "What type of preparation do they have to do? Like, it's not a shuttle launch. But I'm glad it's finally getting started."

Crown prosecutor John Solski expects it to be a long and emotional trial that could last weeks.

"This is certainly the most complex case that I've dealt with in Nunavut and I'm into my sixth year as a Crown up here," said Solski in an interview."It's a major case. It's a first-degree murder charge."

Extra security has been added at the courthouse, as it has been for Jeffrey's earlier appearances, he said.

"I think, while it's certainly an emotional matter, I think people have cooled down and are at the point where they want to see the matter come to trial and they want to have the matter concluded."

Solski says it will likely be several weeks before the jury is selected because the court first has to deal with a series of voir dires to determine the admissibility of some contested evidence.