The man arrested after Monday night’s homicide in Dartmouth was friends with the victim, says his brother.
Joseph Noel Landry, 68, made his first appearance in court on Wednesday. He has been charged with the second-degree murder of Darren Clyde Reid, 52.
“Noel and him were friends for a long time,” said Brian Landry, who attended his older brother’s hearing Wednesday with his wife and another brother, who wished not to be identified.
Joseph Landry was arrested on Monday night following an emergency response to reports of an injured man inside a Portland Street residence.
Officers found Reid with lifethreatening injuries and emergency responders later pronounced him dead on the scene. Following an autopsy on Tuesday, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Neighbours have said there was drug activity at the house where Reid’s body was found. Jim Perrin,superintendent of Halifax Regional Police, wouldn’t comment on that.
“That would be information
that’s collected as part of the investigation that I wouldn’t comment on,” Perrin said at a news conference Wednesday at police headquarters in Halifax.
Perrin confirmed that Landry is known to police and that the two men knew each other.
Devon Hiscock, a carpenter working on the brewery under construction next door, told The Chronicle Herald that he spoke to Reid’s roommate Tuesday morning.
“What I heard was that the roommate himself was in the home during the event (Monday) night,” Hiscock said. “He was in his bedroom and (Reid) was in the living area of the home with a few other people that I got the impression did not live there.”
Hiscock said the roommate told him Tuesday morning that he had heard some sort of commotion and yelling coming from his living room before police showed up Monday night.
The roommate had a “look of fear” in his eyes when he related what had happened in the apartment, Hiscock said.
With the exception of the commercial space on the ground floor, the building where the man died “is pretty well completely occupied by people who are involved with drugs,” Hiscock said. “I would bet my entire last year’s paycheque on it.”
“It’s a high-traffic building. There’s a lot of strung-out people heading in and heading out. And I’m not talking marijuana.”
Joseph Landry appeared cooperative with the sheriffs who escorted him into the courtroom Wednesday and fought back tears after looking toward his family.
“We’re all saddened. This was unexpected, and we’re glad that we’re able to be here for him,” said Brian Landry after the hearing.
Perrin wouldn’t say specificially why Joseph Landry was charged with second-degree murder, except to note it doesn’t involve premeditation, unlike a firstdegree charge.His next court appearance is scheduled for June 1.
