The Crown has closed its case in Adam Drake’s second-degree murder trial. Drake has been charged in connection with the stabbing death of battle rapper Pat Stay at a Halifax nightclub on Sept. 4, 2022. After officially tendering a couple more exhibits, including an additional agreed statement of facts, the Crown closed its case Tuesday morning. The defence said it will not be calling evidence at the trial. The jury was dismissed and told to come back Thursday afternoon for closing arguments from Crown prosecutors Carla Ball and Tanya Carter. Defence lawyers Michael Lacy and Jennifer MacDonald will present their closing arguments on Friday morning. Justice Scott Norton says he will give his charge to the jury on Monday, at which point he recommended jurors should bring an overnight bag “just in case.” Stay was fatally stabbed at the Yacht Club Social in downtown Halifax before stumbling outside and collapsing on the sidewalk. Const. Brad Benjamin, a Halifax police officer in plain clothes who approached Stay, flashed his badge and told Stay paramedics were on their way. According to an agreed statement of facts read at the trial, Benjamin tried to keep Stay alert and asked him what happened. He then rolled Stay over onto his back, where he found a wound, after seeing blood pool beneath him. Benjamin held Stay’s head to try to help him breathe as he was gasping for air. Stay was pronounced dead as the result of a knife wound at the QEII Health Sciences Centre at 1:23 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2022. Drake was arrested for murder at a gas station in Upper Tantallon, N.S., the morning of Sept. 10, 2022. The Crown alleges Drake stabbed Stay. Drake has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
