Adam Drake found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in rapper Pat Stay’s death - Halifax | Globalnews.ca
A jury in Dartmouth, N.S. has found Adam Drake, 34, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of battle rapper Pat Stay.
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A jury in Dartmouth, N.S., has found Adam Drake, 34, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of battle rapper Pat Stay.
Cheers echoed throughout the Dartmouth courthouse Wednesday afternoon after the verdict was read out.
Only immediate family members were allowed inside the courtroom when the decision was read, while everyone else moved into a separate courtroom to watch a broadcast.
Deliberations lasted just under 24 hours.
A conviction of second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence.
“I don’t really have it in words. I’m just happy it’s over. It’s been the longest weeks of my life and I’m just happy it’s over. I feel like he’s at peace now,” Stay’s girlfriend, Malyssa Burns, told reporters.
“Losing Pat — (there) will never be closure for that but at least we can move forward with knowing that his murderer’s in jail.”
Stay, 36, was stabbed inside a Halifax nightclub in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, 2022.
The trial had centred around surveillance footage from the club, which the Crown and defence interpreted differently.
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Crime
Adam Drake found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in rapper Pat Stay’s death
By Rebecca Lau & Mitchell Bailey Global News
Posted June 18, 2025 12:26 pm
2 min read
Click to play video: 'Adam Drake found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in rapper Pat Stay’s death'
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Adam Drake found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in rapper Pat Stay’s death
WATCH: A jury has convicted Adam Drake of murdering Dartmouth battle rapper Pat Stay, who was stabbed in a Halifax nightclub in 2022. Mitchell Bailey has reaction from outside the courtroom.
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A jury in Dartmouth, N.S., has found Adam Drake, 34, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of battle rapper Pat Stay.
Cheers echoed throughout the Dartmouth courthouse Wednesday afternoon after the verdict was read out.
Only immediate family members were allowed inside the courtroom when the decision was read, while everyone else moved into a separate courtroom to watch a broadcast.
Deliberations lasted just under 24 hours.
A conviction of second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence.
“I don’t really have it in words. I’m just happy it’s over. It’s been the longest weeks of my life and I’m just happy it’s over. I feel like he’s at peace now,” Stay’s girlfriend, Malyssa Burns, told reporters.
“Losing Pat — (there) will never be closure for that but at least we can move forward with knowing that his murderer’s in jail.”
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Stay, 36, was stabbed inside a Halifax nightclub in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, 2022.
The trial had centred around surveillance footage from the club, which the Crown and defence interpreted differently.
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The defence argued the video doesn’t show Drake stabbing the popular rapper, while the Crown used a process of elimination argument to conclude no one but Drake was in a position to stab Stay at the time.
“Helping people understand that they can take their time and individually look at each person and each piece in the video and work their way through it that way was crucial,” said Crown attorney Tanya Carter on Wednesday.
Stay was a father, partner and successful battle rapper, who was described as having “a huge personality, amazing sense of humour, infectious laugh and an enormous heart” in his obituary.
In the days after his death, tributes poured in — including online posts from rapper Eminem and Canadian artist Drake.
Stay’s family says their pain will never be fully healed, but there’s a sense of “relief” with the jury’s decision.
“It is relief. That’s what it is. That’d be a good way to put it,” said Burns.