Nova Scotia

Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in East Preston homicide

Patrick James Denny faces charges in the death of Barry Angus Studley, whose body was found in a van parked behind an East Preston strip mall in August 2022.

Accused is already serving time in N.B. for an unrelated incident, say RCMP

An up-close picture of an RCMP shoulder patch.
RCMP say Patrick James Denny was arrested with the help of public tips. He is currently serving a prison sentence in New Brunswick for an unrelated crime. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)

A man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in a van two years ago in the Halifax area.

Patrick James Denny, 29, also faces a charge of indignity to human remains, RCMP said Wednesday in a news release.

The body of Barry Angus Studley, 47, was discovered Aug. 30, 2022, after RCMP were called to a report of a suspicious van parked behind a strip mall in East Preston.

Police ruled the Middle Sackville man's death a homicide. Denny and Studley were known to each other, the release said.

RCMP said Denny was arrested with the help of tips from the public.

According to the Correctional Service of Canada, Denny is currently serving a seven-year sentence after being convicted of charges including aggravated assault, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, discharging a prohibited or restricted firearm with intent.

He will remain in custody and be transported to Nova Scotia for an appearance in Dartmouth provincial court on Oct. 21.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Giuliana is a journalist originally from Lima, Peru. She arrived in Canada in 2022 to study journalism at St. Thomas University and was selected as one of the Donaldson Scholars in 2024. If you have any story tips, you can reach her at giuliana.grillo.de.lambarri@cbc.ca.