May 06, 2009 - 10:07 AM

OSHAWA -- Residents of Celina Street hovered on their front lawns and porches Wednesday morning, eyeing the pink house cordoned off by police tape.

Police were called to 292 Celina St. at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, where they found the body of a woman in her sixties.

"A female had been killed and there were obvious signs of trauma to the body," said Durham Regional Police Inspector Joseph Maiorano.

Police said a woman in her fifties was arrested at the scene and confirmed that the women knew each other, but the exact nature of the relationship has not been disclosed.

Neighbour David Carlisle said the women were roommates who lived separately on the main floor of the home. He said the deceased woman had lived there for several years and recently rented out a room to the other woman, to help make ends meet.

"Some might think that she's a little strange but she had the nicest demeanor that you could ever ask for in a neighbour and a friend, period," Mr. Carlisle said, describing the victim.

When police arrived to arrest the other woman, he said, they patted her down and were "looking for a knife."

"They were asking her where the knife was at," said Taryn Behr, who rents a room up the street and heard the commotion. "I just moved here. I don't know the people in that house, but I've seen them coming and going. They both seemed normal to me."

Neighbours up and down the street said the neighbourhood is largely rental homes and rooming houses, with many transient residents.

Many said they hadn't lived in the area long enough to know much about their neighbours, although most had seen the women from 292 Celina out for a walk or a cigarette.

"The woman who died, she's lived here for two or three years at least," said Eric Calder, who lives on a side street and walks his dog down Celina two or three times a day. "The other woman, I think she just moved here, I've seen her out here before and she didn't seem right in the head to me."

Linda Lafleur, 53, of Oshawa is charged with first degree murder.

Stay with www.newsdurhamregion.com for updates on this story.

- With files from Jillian Follert, Stefanie Swinson and the Toronto Star