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Slain Battle Rapper Pat Stay Murder Trial Ends With Guilty Verdict After Five Weeks In Court

June 19, 2025

Pat Stay’s killer was convicted of second-degree murder by a Nova Scotia jury after a five-week trial and less than a day of deliberation.

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Adam Drake was convicted of second-degree murder Tuesday (June 18) in the stabbing death of Pat Stay, a revered figure in the battle rap world, following a swift jury decision in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

The 12-person jury reached its verdict in less than a day, CBA News reports. The five-week trial centered around the fatal stabbing of the 36-year-old rapper and father of two at the Yacht Club Social in Halifax on September 4, 2022.

Drake, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, faced a downgraded charge before the trial began. Prosecutors leaned heavily on surveillance footage from inside the nightclub. Although the stabbing wasn’t captured on camera, the Crown argued that a process of elimination left Drake as the only possible assailant.

The defense countered that the video lacked clarity and failed to show the actual attack, urging jurors to acquit.

Drake chose not to testify or present any evidence in his own defense.

The courtroom was emotionally charged throughout the proceedings. After the verdict, Stay’s longtime partner, Malyssa Burns, told reporters that the trial was “The hardest five weeks of my life.”

She added that while the verdict couldn’t bring closure to Pat’s death, “at least we can move forward with knowing that his murderer’s in jail.”

A conviction for second-degree murder in Canada carries a mandatory life sentence. The judge will determine parole eligibility, which can range from 10 to 25 years.

Drake is already serving a life sentence for the 2016 “execution-style” killing of Tyler Keizer. That prior conviction was not disclosed to the jury to preserve the integrity of the trial and was only made public after Tuesday’s verdict.

Sentencing for Drake is expected in the coming weeks.

The battle rap scene responded with an outpouring of tributes to Stay, whose lyrical skill and stage presence earned him international acclaim.

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