Keya Simon's 2011 murder leads to 2 arrests

Halifax Regional Police have arrested two men in connection to the 2011 murder of 19-year-old KeyaSimon and her mother says it's about time.

On Jan. 8, 2011, Simon and her 32-year-old sister were stabbed during a fight at a house party attended by 25 to 30 people.

Simons body was found inside the front door of an apartment building at 117PinecrestDr. in Dartmouth around 11:20 p.m. that night. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her sister was treated and released from hospital.

Investigators arrested two suspectson Wednesday.

Simon's mother, Torina, was called by investigators shortly after the arrests were made.

"My reaction was thank God. It's about time," she says. "This pain is not going to leave, it's not going to change anything It just makes things more clear, justice right, wrong is wrong."

A 25-year-old Dartmouth man was arrested without incident in Dartmouth and a 25-year-old man, originally from Dartmouth, was arrested in New Brunswick. They are in custody and being interviewed.

Const. Pierre Bourdage with Halifax Regional Police says the man arrested in New Brunswick has been brought to Halifax for questioning. He says police have until noon Thursday to lay any charges.

"They could walk but they still have a conscience," Simon says. "They have to deal with their conscience. Itmust have been eating at that them for the last three years, three and a half years. There will be charges laid, that's only a given."

Investigators said the party was hosted by Simon's sister. During the party, a group of people known to the victims entered.

A fight spilled out onto the front lawn of the apartment building and led to the stabbing, police said.

While Torina Simon was glad to hear arrests have been made, she's still not pleased with her older daughter.

Despite being stabbed in the same incident, Keya Simon's sister has never been co-operative with the police and never gave them any information that her mother believes could have moved the case forward three and a half years ago.

Investigators are still interested in speaking with anyone who may have been at the party and are asking them to contact police at 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.