Man charged with first-degree murder in Spryfield stabbing

Halifax police have charged a man with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of another man Wednesday morning.

Alexander Charles Howe, 36, of Halifax, appeared in Halifax provincial court Thursday on the charge.

Howe was arrested at the Twin Oaks Road apartment house in Spryfield where he lives after police were called to the stabbing at the property at 2:20 a.m.

The victim, Adam Dempsey, was found wounded on the front lawn and taken to hospital, but later died of his injuries.

Howe appeared in court via a video link from the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth. 

Defence lawyer Sarah White joined the court proceeding by phone, while Crown attorney Mike Berrigan was there in person. 

Judge Perry Borden adjourned the case until Sept. 14. The next step in provincial court would be to set dates for a preliminary inquiry. 

Howe remains in custody. If he wants bail, he will have to make an application in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. 

At the request of the Crown, Borden ordered Howe to have no contact with four potential witnesses, including his mother, brother and Dempsey’s brother. 

Court documents show Howe also has a pending case in court in October for impaired driving and refusing the breathalyzer. He has a limited record of past brushes in the law including being charged with assault, uttering threats and possession of a weapon knowing it was unauthorized.