UPDATE: Thorncliffe stabbing death called a same-sex, domestic homicide

CALGARY – Police have laid charges against a 29-year-old man in connection to the city’s latest murder—one which police are calling a rare case of same-sex, domestic homicide.

Officers were called to the 6400 block of Travois Place N.W. around 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday for reports of a disturbance. When they arrived, they found a man dead on the second floor of the building. Police confirm 25-year-old Kurlan Rick Joseph of Calgary was stabbed to death.

A man found just a block away from the scene was taken into custody, and later transported to the arrest processing downtown. It turns out that man was in a relationship with the victim.

“We do not see many same-sex domestic homicides,” says S/Sgt. Grant Miller from the Calgary Police Service. He adds the couple was not known to police, and they’re still trying to determine what led to the altercation.

“Focused on the amount of time we’ve had, we will get into more of the background in the coming days. Just because we have laid a charge, the investigation is not over.”

Experts say domestic violence happens in same-sex relationships, just as often as it does in heterosexual homes. Jane Oxenbury from Safety Under The Rainbow says the violence can be even more isolating in gay relationships, because of the unique challenges they pose.

She adds the troubling case serves as a reminder for those in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered community.

“We need to encourage the GLBT community to come forward and let them know that it is frequent, it’s going to happen, be aware of it.”

Police have charged 29-year-old Haden Gidel Didier with one count of second-degree murder.