UPDATED: charges laid in David Rose homicide in South End Halifax

HALIFAX – Halifax Regional Police have charged a man and a woman in connection to the murder of David William Rose.

A 51-year-old man faces a charge of second-degree murder, while a 29-year-old woman faces charges of robbery and being an accessory after the fact to murder. Police have not named the pair, and will not comment on their relation to the victim. Both are scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on Thursday morning.

Rose, 65, was found murdered Sunday night at a rooming house on South Street where he lived. 

The two suspects were arrested late Tuesday night at separate residences in Halifax’s south end.

Hours after news of their arrest spread, Rose’s friends told Global News there was a sense of relief.

“Dave deserved answers and hopefully they have the actual offenders,” said Rose’s neighbour and close friend, Jenny, who didn’t want to give her last name.

Rose, who was originally from Newfoundland, was described by friends as a gentle man who was always smiling. They say he had been in poor health lately and walked with a cane.

He regularly visited outreach programs at churches downtown, where volunteers say he simply loved to socialize.

“We’re going to miss him very much. He was a very valued member of our community and he will be missed by a lot of people and it’s quite unbelievable that anyone would attack him in this way,” said Valerie MacDonald, one of the co-ordinators at the drop-in centre at Saint David’s Presbyterian.

Saint David’s, along with volunteers at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, are planning a memorial service for Rose. It will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at Saint David’s on Brunswick Street, and members of the public are invited to take part.