Brutal murder case proceeds in Kuujjuaq

KUUJJUAQ — The cases of the three men arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a Kuujjuaq man this past February are proceeding through the justice system this week.

On Feb. 2, 2005, police found the body of Claude Bourget, a senior accounting clerk at the Kativik Regional Government, in his Kuujjuaq home.

Bourget, 50, had died from injuries received during a beating, which included an assault with a hockey stick that was thrust up through his rectum.

Following an investigation, three young Kuujjuaq men were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Bourget’s death: Bobby “Teelu” Snowball Jr., 22, Joey Partridge, 19, and Thomassie Koneak, 24.

Last Wednesday, in Kuujjuaq, Koneak’s preliminary hearing was heard in front of a judge with the Superior Court of Quebec. The judge ordered him to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, forcible confinement and aggravated sexual assault causing injury. Koneak also faces a charge of theft under $5,000.

A date for Koneak’s trial will be set Jan. 9.

At their court appearance last week, Snowball and Partridge waived their right to a preliminary inquiry into the charges facing them, which also include aggravated sexual assault and forcible confinement, and asked to proceed directly to trial.

According to sources close to the court, Snowball and Partridge are expected to plead guilty to second-degree murder on Feb. 6, under a plea bargain.

Under the terms of the plea bargain, the two will receive mandatory life sentences. Snowball would not be eligible to be considered for parole for 15 years, while Partridge would not be eligible to be considered for parole for 12 years.