Halifax Gay Rights Activist Murdered

Raymond Taavel, a well-known activist in the community, was beaten to death after leaving a gay bar Monday night. Taavel got in the middle of an argument between a man he was with and another guy who was yelling homophobic insults at the couple as they left Menz Bar. A witness, whose bedroom overlooks the scene of the crime, told CTV Atlantic that he heard the man use the word "faggot" repeatedly. The suspect, Andre Noel Denny, was found nearby in an alley, will face a charge of second degree murder and is expected to appear in court later today. Police had been looking for Denny earlier in the day because he had failed to return to the East Coast Forensic Centre after a one- hour leave.

Mourners hung rainbow flags along the street and friends will be holding a candlelight vigil.

NDP MP Megan Leslie, a friend of Taavel, told CTV that his death was "very, very sad news. He was a great member of our community, and he was a friend of mine, and a friend of my team."