No charges after N.S. care-home homicide

The death of an elderly Halifaxarea woman has been ruled a homicide, but investigators say no charges will be laid because the 77-year-old suspect is not criminally culpable.

Police say an 86-year-old woman died on Sept. 3 following complications from an injury sustained during an altercation with a 77-year-old woman on June 7 at a continuing care home.

They say the suspect is not criminally culpable due to her cognitive impairment.

Halifax Regional Police say the medical examiner called officers to Oakwood Terrace in Dartmouth on Sept. 4.

The medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Sept. 5 and ruled the death a homicide.

Police say they have completed their investigation and in consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, they have decided not to lay charges against the 77-year-old woman.

Nova Scotia officials have seen a number of similar deaths in recent years, including eight seniors who died between 2008 and 2016 as “a result of violence,’’ according to death reports.

In November, a 70-year-old man died at a nearby continuing care home in Dartmouth following an altercation with a 64-year-old man, a fellow resident of Clarmar Care Ltd.

Police say the man had suffered a “medical event” shortly after the altercation and died at the scene.

The 64-year-old-man was arrested, but was later released without charges.