A 28-Year-Old Man Charged with Murdering Intimate Partner in Nova Scotia

A tragic incident unfolded in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley when a 28-year-old man was charged with murdering his intimate partner after a woman was found dead in a home that was set ablaze early one morning. Justin Joseph Benjamin is facing charges of second-degree murder and arson with disregard for human life in connection with the death of a 22-year-old woman in Centreville. He is set to appear in court on Monday.

The heartbreaking discovery was made after firefighters and paramedics responded to a call at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, finding the home engulfed in flames. Thankfully, six individuals managed to escape the fire unharmed. The suspect, Justin Joseph Benjamin, was apprehended later that day on Highway 8 near Lequille, N.S., and was formally charged the following day.

According to a news release by the RCMP, the victim lost her life as a result of intimate partner violence, shedding light on the prevalence of such heartbreaking incidents in recent months in Nova Scotia. The province has seen a series of homicides linked to intimate partner violence, with five women falling victim to murder-suicides in a span of just four months.

The most recent tragedy occurred in Mahone Bay, N.S., where a 75-year-old man fatally shot a 60-year-old woman before taking his own life. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address and prevent domestic violence, ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in intimate relationships.