Jury hears Pat Stay’s blood was found on Adam Drake’s shoe

The jury in a murder trial learned Pat Stay's blood was found on Adam Drake's shoe.

Forensic and DNA evidence took centre stage at a high-profile murder trial in Dartmouth, N.S., on Wednesday, where the jury was told Pat Stay’s blood was found on Adam Drake’s shoe.

Drake is on trial for second-degree murder in Stay’s death on Sept. 4, 2022.

That witness was Walid Dabbour, a forensic DNA analyst who began virtual testimony on Tuesday.

He told the jury the odds of the blood found on the bottom of Drake’s shoe being someone other than Stay’s are one-in-2.5-sextillion.

Blood found on the outside toe area of the shoe belonged to two people, one of whom also had a very high probability of belonging to Stay, he said. It’s not clear who the other person was.

Det. Illya Nielsen, of the Halifax Regional Police, also took the stand Wednesday, telling the jury he did 50 footwear impressions in the Yacht Club Social, including 39 that were in blood or red staining.

He said patterns were observed from the VIP area, where Drake was, to the front door and that others went through to a back hallway and exit.

But the defence confirmed no footprints heading out back were from Drake, although a previous witness who was with him that night testified their group of four left the club through that back door.

After questioning from Drake’s lawyer Michael Lacy, Nielsen also confirmed he was not tasked with examining shoes that belonged to another person who was arrested after Stay was stabbed.

The third Crown witness of the day testified Drake removed two photos of himself off Instagram soon after the attack.

Jodie Burns is a relative of Stay’s partner and met Drake through a dating app 10 years earlier.

She sent in screenshots of his Instagram profile -- and of a Facebook comment -- to police.

She testified that Drake commented, “Can’t wait to give u a big hug,” on a music video of Stay’s about 18 weeks earlier, but no further context was provided to the jury.

Court broke early for the day and jurors were told they would only be required to return on Monday, meaning there will be no testimony until then.

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