Closing arguments underway in trial of man accused of murdering Pat Stay

The second-degree murder trial of Adam Drake, accused of fatally stabbing battle rapper Pat Stay at a downtown Halifax bar nearly three years ago, is coming to a close. Crown attorney Tanya Carter delivered her closing arguments in a packed Dartmouth courtroom, stating that through process of elimination, Drake is the only possible suspect in the case.

Using surveillance footage and still images from the bar on the night of the incident, Carter meticulously traced the steps of several individuals who were in the VIP section with Stay when he was stabbed. She pointed out that of the eight people around Stay, each could be ruled out as a suspect based on their positioning and behavior before and after the stabbing, leaving only Adam Drake as the likely perpetrator.

The video surveillance of the moment Stay was stabbed, though not showing a knife, clearly shows Drake thrusting towards Stay, according to Carter. The direction of the blood splatter at the scene further supports the argument that the stabbing had to have come from where Drake was standing.

Additionally, Carter highlighted that Drake had threatened Stay on social media in the weeks leading up to the incident and had attempted to conceal his presence at the bar that night by removing pictures from his Instagram account.

Drake, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a crucial moment as his defense lawyer Michael Lacy is set to deliver closing arguments on Monday. Justice Scott Norton will then provide instructions to the jury before they commence deliberations on a verdict.

The trial has been closely followed by the public, given the high-profile nature of the case and the tragic loss of Pat Stay, who was only 36 years old at the time of his death. The outcome of the trial will undoubtedly have a significant impact on all parties involved and the community at large.