Ex-boyfriend wants Dartmouth murder victim Tara Lynn Park remembered for smile

DARTMOUTH – Tara Lynn Park’s former boyfriend, Dwayne Morrisey, doesn’t want her to be remembered as a murder victim. He wants her to be remembered for something else.

“Her smile,” he said, while choking back tears. “Honestly, she had the best smile in the world.”

Morrisey and his family spoke to Global News because they wanted to clear up any misconceptions about her.

“She was a good woman. She was a good mom. She was a good friend and she didn’t deserve it,” said Dwayne’s sister Karla Morrisey. “I don’t want people to get the wrong impression of her, especially now that she’s gone. She can’t defend herself.”

Dwayne Morrisey said the murder is still difficult to comprehend. “I loved her. My kids loved her. It’s hard to believe she’s not here,” he said, breaking down in tears.

He said they recently broke up and Park was looking for an apartment with her young daughter.

The 33-year-old woman had just moved into a building on Albro Lake Road on Saturday, when she was found stabbed to death in the stairwell later that night.

A neighbour who came across the scene describes it as grisly.

“I walk down the stairs and I see the bloody footprints coming from the apartment,” said Dylan Kennedy. “It was pretty rough. It looked like a movie scene.”

Halifax Regional Police arrested Christopher Kenneth Hutchinson on Monday, and charged him with second-degree murder Tuesday morning.

Extra sheriff officers were on hand, as the 28-year-old was led into the Dartmouth courthouse wearing a spit guard on his face.

Police have said Hutchinson and Park were in a relationship.

He is also facing charges for assaulting a police officer with a weapon and property damage.

According to police, Hutchinson allegedly punched an officer in the face, threw a chair and damaged equipment during his interrogation.

The Morriseys say funeral arrangements are being made in Sheet Harbour, where Park’s family lives.