Murder trial opens in death of Dartmouth battle rapper Pat Stay

A trial opened in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Dartmouth on Monday for the man accused of killing battle rapper Pat Stay. 

Stay, 36, was stabbed outside a bar in downtown Halifax in September 2022 and died later in hospital. He was a celebrated artist in the music scene and his death spawned memorials and tributes.

Days after the stabbing, police arrested Adam Drake, 35. He is facing a second-degree murder charge.

The first day of the trial was taken up with jury selection. Because of Stay's notoriety, prospective jurors faced a procedure called challenge for cause, where they were questioned about what they had heard about the case.

Trial begins for man accused of killing Pat Stay

5 hours ago

Duration 1:13

Stay, a battle rapper and hip-hop artist, died after he was stabbed outside a Halifax bar in 2022. Adam Drake is charged with second-degree murder in Stay's death. Blair Rhodes has the story.

They were also asked whether they could put what they had heard out of their minds and concentrate only on the evidence they were about to hear.

A couple of prospective jurors said they couldn't meet that test but a jury of seven men and seven women was still picked.

When it comes time to deliberate at the end of the trial, two jurors will be chosen at random and sent home. Only 12 people will decide Drake's fate.

The trial is expected to run until mid-June.