Extra precautions were in place as the case of a rapper charged with murder returned to Halifax provincial court Friday morning.
Additional sheriffs and Halifax Regional Police officers were at the courthouse, even though Carvel Clayton appeared via video link.
The 21-year-old man is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 21-year-old Shakur Jefferies, who was found dead on Washmill Lake Drive around 5 p.m. on Nov. 12.
Chaos erupted at Clayton’s last court appearance on Nov. 14. Someone in the courtroom yelled "get him" and lunged at the accused as he was being escorted from the courtroom. A sheriff was knocked over in the melee and police yelled at others to calm down. Tension then erupted between supporters of the victim and the accused.
Things were much calmer on Friday as Clayton appeared via video link.
Clayton recently penned a song following the shooting deaths of several young black men that galvanized the city and prompted anti-violence marches.
Quentrel Provo, founder of Stop the Violence, has said Clayton is a talented young musician who was so moved by the string of shootings last spring that he wrote the rap, "Murder (Pray 4 Scotia)."
The song bemoans the slew of killings and urges people to refrain from violence.
Police are continuing to investigate, but say Clayton was known to them.
His case was put over until Dec. 14, when he is due back in court to set dates for a preliminary hearing.
With files from The Canadian Press
