Halifax man serving time for manslaughter loses parole over repeated breaches

A Halifax man serving time for manslaughter has lost his parole privileges for repeatedly breaching the conditions of his release.

Carvel Clayton, 28, was released on full parole in April of last year, partway through his eight-year sentence for killing Shakur Jeffries.

Jeffries was found shot to death in a parking lot on Washmill Lake Drive in November 2016. Clayton had originally been charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge before his trial.

His parole came to an end on June 9 of this year when police responded to a complaint of someone driving a BMW with firearms inside. According to the Parole Board of Canada, the BMW stopped and the driver left on foot, with police close behind.

When they rounded the corner of the residence where the vehicle had stopped, police found Clayton, who said they were arresting the wrong man. Since they couldn't prove he was the driver, Clayton was released.

The next day, Clayton's parole was suspended.

"Your case management team (CMT) notes that you made the choice to breach your curfew condition and subsequently decided to flee police," the parole board wrote in an Aug. 27 decision to extend the parole suspension.

"Furthermore, you demonstrated a blatant disregard for your curfew condition on several occasions and you never reported having an intimate partner."

Not the first time parole revoked

Clayton was previously released on parole in 2021, but that parole was also revoked because of violations. 

"The board believes that your decision to repeatedly violate your curfew condition speaks to your total disregard for the conditions of your release and elevates your risk to the point where it is no longer manageable in the community," the board added in its recent decision.

The decision noted Clayton was not employed during his parole and was pursuing a career as a rap artist.