Gay activist's beating death prompts murder charge

Alexandria · Apr 17, 2012

Gay activist's beating death prompts murder charge - Nova Scotia - CBC News

A man is facing a charge of second-degree murder after a prominent gay activist in Halifax was beaten to death early Tuesday morning outside a gay club on Gottingen Street.

Raymond Taavel was a former chairman of Gay Pride week events and a well-known editor for Wayves magazine. He also worked for the Shambala Sun Foundation.

He was found lying in the street bleeding at 2:39 a.m. local time by a passing motorist who called Halifax Regional Police. Taavel died at the scene.

Police say the death was a homicide. Andre Noel Denny, 32, is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court Wednesday.

"The preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Taavel attempted to break up a fight between two men and that one of the men began assaulting him," Halifax police spokesman Brian Palmeter said.

"A witness called police after he noticed a man lying on the ground bleeding and observed a person fleeing the area."
Raymond Taavel is being remembered in a Facebook tribute.Raymond Taavel is being remembered in a Facebook tribute. (Facebook: Randall Perry)

Taavel and a friend had just left Menz Bar, a popular Halifax gay bar, when witnesses say they got into an argument and fight with a much larger man.
Police investigating motive

Two witnesses have told police the attacker used homophobic slurs during the beating and one eyewitness told CBC News that he repeatedly slammed Taavel's head into the street where the victim was found by police and later pronounced dead by paramedics.

A witness, who only wants to be identified as James, told CBC News that he saw a large man attack two smaller men, who appeared to be friends. One victim fled and the attacker then slammed the other man's head into the street.

"He put on a good beating onto the first guy … and then he went after the other through anger and focused on him too much. That's how it ended up being what it is," James said.

"The big guy was just full of resentment, probably towards homosexuals. That slur was used."

Police said they were still investigating the motive.

"There has been speculation online and in the community that this was a hate crime. While we cannot provide specific information about the case, as it is still under investigation, police have spoken to a number of witnesses and are considering all possibilities with respect to the motive," Palmeter said.
People at the vigil gathered around a giant Pride flag. People at the vigil gathered around a giant Pride flag. (Stephen Puddicombe/CBC)
Hundreds attend vigil

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people gathered on Gottingen Street to hold a vigil for Taavel. The street was closed off as mourners held candles and remembered a man they loved and, in many cases, a man they had never met.

Daniel MacKay, the publisher of Wayves, went to the vigil to honour his friend. Taavel was the magazine's editor for 10 years. MacKay said Taavel had written about a similar attack two years ago. It can be read on page 14 of the magazine. MacKay said police reports that his friend died trying to break up a fight fit the man's character.

"That's an intrinsic part of Raymond. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Raymond helped other people," he said. "I'm going to miss him driving me to do better things in our community, which he did on a regular basis."

The wide range of people at the vigil gathered around a giant Pride flag and sang Amazing Grace to honour Taavel.
Suspect is a psychiatric patient

Denny was arrested in a nearby alley shortly after the attack. He is a patient who failed to return to the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Dartmouth after a one-hour leave, CBC News has learned. He is one of three patients who did not return to the hospital Monday.

Capital Health, the organization that runs the hospital, has launched an internal review into the matter.

Denny was sent to the facility after being found not criminally responsible on a charge of assault causing bodily harm in Sydney.

In court documents, the man is described as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. He is also described as being grossly psychotic with a history of aggressive impulsivity and unpredictability.

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...For all the preaching I do that Canada is far more safe and accepting; this crap happens. Worst part is, this guy, because he was already in care, will likely get off with little more than a slap on the wrist. Disgusting. He needs to be nailed with a hate crime, bar none.

Hopefully, the police will do what is needed and treat this as the hate crime it is. More than that... hopefully Taavel's life will be among the last to be lost to such hatred in this country. :icon_sad:

Revan · Apr 17, 2012

Not happy...

DryOasis · Apr 18, 2012

Just awful. Stories like this never fail to deeply sadden me.

ArcherySet · Apr 18, 2012

Second degree murder for beating someone to death? What a joke. Some days I hate my country.

Bradley · Apr 18, 2012

Question number one should be who the hell gave this guy an unsupervised day pass? He had a history of mental illness and violent behavior.

ArcherySet said: ↑

Second degree murder for beating someone to death? What a joke. Some days I hate my country.
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The alternative being what? This crime is by definition second degree murder.

Kidd · Apr 18, 2012

Bradley said: ↑

The alternative being what? This crime is by definition second degree murder.
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The alternative being first-degree murder, I'm assuming. Premeditation can be made in the instant before a hammer swing or a punch. Pausing for just a few seconds before committing a violent act can be enough in the United States to justify a first-degree murder charge. I'm not familiar with Canadian law, but I have to agree that I think this guy deserves more than just a second degree murder charge.

TheAMan · Apr 18, 2012

This really breaks my heart. I just can't believe that some people feel the need to kill someone just because they are different.

Bradley · Apr 18, 2012

Kidd said: ↑

Bradley said: ↑

The alternative being what? This crime is by definition second degree murder.
Click to expand...

The alternative being first-degree murder, I'm assuming. Premeditation can be made in the instant before a hammer swing or a punch. Pausing for just a few seconds before committing a violent act can be enough in the United States to justify a first-degree murder charge. I'm not familiar with Canadian law, but I have to agree that I think this guy deserves more than just a second degree murder charge.
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I agree he deserves it, but thankfully our court system relies on established laws and fair trials instead of charging someone based on how angry we are about it.

To be a first degree murder charge in Canada, the act must be planned AND deliberate (with some exceptions, ie killing a cop etc...). Any murder committed in the heat of the moment is second degree murder. Premeditation means that an intent to kill was established in a state of calm blood, and not under the influence of violent passion. Although the moment can be brief, it must be proven that the person was of calm mind when they made the decision to kill to qualify as first degree murder. Either way it's a life sentence.

I'm not trying to defend this guy, but remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and they must charge him based on the crime committed. The fact that the man was killed because he was gay (aka a hate crime) will serve as an aggravating factor during sentencing, and should not be used to trump up the charges against the accused.

Alexandria · Apr 18, 2012

WhileI agree with the theory, Bradley, the fact is this guy is a mental case. Hes already gotten off of assault charges before, and he will again. He wont get justice.

But I will be pleased to be proven wrong for a change.

Cheese on toast · Apr 18, 2012

Oh my god, this is awful

Bradley · Apr 18, 2012

I guess it depends on what you consider justice. He will either spend the rest of his life in a psychiatric hospital or prison, there is no question there. Either way he will never be part of society again. If justice means revenge to you, then you may be disappointed. I think permanently separating him from society and giving him proper treatment for his mental illness is justice too though.

Gay activist's beating death prompts murder charge

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