Trevor Charles Brewster went to Burnside Trails for a stroll. Unfortunately, he found murder instead. A can collector discovered the 45-year old gay man’s partially-clothed, bloody body Wednesday:
Colin Brown, the man who found the body, said the victim was dressed only in jeans and had a garbage bag over his head and what looked like a knife wound in his abdomen.
He said the body appeared to have been purposely hidden, probably recently.
Burnside Trails has earned a reputation for gay cruising, a sexually-charged detail that leads some to speculate that that Brewster – a quiet, well-regarded waiter – had gone to the park to find a bit of free loving. Certainly a distressing hypothesis and even more so considering the recent murder of another gay man, Michael Paul Knott.
Investigators, however, are hesitant to make a connection:
Halifax police and RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] also plan to speak to Southwest Nova RCMP about the recent murder of Michael Paul Knott to see if there might be a link, [police spokesperson Theresa Brien] said.
“At this point, it’s far too early to tell,” she said. A relative last saw Mr. Knott, 44, on the evening of May 1, when he dropped someone off at work on Chain Lake Drive in Bayers Lake Business Park. The Timberlea man’s body was found in a wooded area in Mill Cove, Lunenburg County, last Saturday.
It also remains unclear whether Brewster’s sexual orientation played a roll in the murder. One thing’s for sure: you queer canucks need to stay away from Burnside Park.
And anyone with information on Knott’s death can call a special tip line. Meanwhile, those with clues into Brewster’s murder should call 1-800-222-8477.
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Cole Harbour man’s death was murder [The Chronicle Herald]
Gay community alarmed [Halifax News]
Gay Man Murdered in Nova Scotia Park Reputed as Cruising Area [Towleroad]
nik
hey a gay guy from halifax and i am very disturbed by what is going on in my comunity two men have died in what is being called with in the community (not by police) as a gay murder this bothers me for two reasons ive lived in halifax for 5 years and halifax is one of the most accepting cities ive ever lived in .also this bother me because i worked near where trevor brewster worked and would see him all the time on my way to work always polite and with a smile on his face not showey or in your face trevor was a man who even though i didnt know well he always mad me proud to be gay in this city…. rest in peace trevor our thoughts and prayres are with you and your family
Jamilik Rampini
I’d say it is quite unlikley that this was a hate crime, unless it was perpetrated by a very closted gay / bi / married type – who hang out in that area a lot. Trevor was not a friend but I knew who he was and he was always quietly friendly and smiling. He may have approached the wrong guy a bit too aggressively, or he may have had his fun with someone with serious issues; who knows. But I think it was a gay on gay crime.
I doubt it was some random straight guy who was out to hurt homosexuals for no reason – Halifax has its problems but homophobia has never seemed to be one of them in my 20 years living here. The gay bars are full of straight people and vice versa; homophobic remarks are totally taboo amongst pretty much any straight folks I know. It seems to be a non-issue, as Trevor’s neighbours commented.
Emily Nicholson
Rest In Peace Trevor, can’t believe this happened to you, and i dont think he was walking there, cause he’s not none to.