Halifax man accused of killing neighbour

A man who lived next door to Sharon Anne Hatch has been charged with her first-degree murder.

Hatch's body was found off Giles Drive in Bedford, near Halifax, on Dec. 14. The woman, 42, had been missing for more than a week.

Antonio Edward Lavoie, 45, was arrested at his home in Lower Sackville on Saturday. He once lived on Desmond Avenue in Halifax, the same street as Hatch.

"We know they know each other because of where they live, but we're not sure of the nature of the relationship," said Supt. Fred Sanford, with Halifax Regional Police.

Sanford said several people in the community came forward with information that helped lead to the arrest.

A hiker discovered Hatch's body in the woods, an area known to neighbours as an illegal dumpsite. Investigators have said her body was dumped there but she was killed elsewhere.

Police are now revealing that Hatch died as a result of blunt force trauma to her head, but will not say what type of weapon was used.

Lavoie is scheduled to appear in provincial court Monday on the first-degree murder charge.