Murder charge dropped in Truro brawl

A Truro, N.S., man who had been accused of killing another man in July has been set free.

Dustan Joseph Preeper, 22, had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ben Hare.

On Thursday, Truro police Chief David MacNeil said the murder charge was withdrawn in consultation with the Crown prosecutor's office.

"Suffice it to say, our investigation is still ongoing and we're very confident that the matter will be resolved before the courts sooner than later," he told CBC News.

"We just want to make sure that we have all the evidence back and all the facts before we proceed in front of a judge."

Hare, 26, was found dead at an apartment building on Lyman Street near Truro's Victoria Park after police responded to several 911 calls early in the morning on July 8. Preeper was charged with manslaughter the next day, and that charge was upgraded later.

Police described the Julyincident as a brawl.

Crown prosecutors say Thursday's development does not preclude other charges being laid at a later date, if the evidence warrants it.