Deanna Patrice Clayton, 27, Dartmouth NS

Deanna was brutally murdered by her boyfriend on June 7, 1997.

Deanna was described as a loving mother and family member who got in with the wrong crowd.

Neighbors reported that Deanna and the Accused could be heard fighting and described the Accused as ‘jealous.’

On June 19, 1996 the Accused had been charged with assaulting Deanna with a knife and with unlawfully possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace. The Accused was ordered to stay away from Deanna.

On July 1st and 3rd the Accused was charged with breaking a court undertaking to have no contact with Deanna and two other individuals.

The Accused pleaded guilty to the breaches and served one month in jail. The assault charges against him were later dropped.

On June 9, 1997 police went to Deanna’s apartment looking for the Accused in connection for the murder of a shop keeper who had been killed the previous day.  Instead, they found Deanna’s body.  She had died from strangulation.

The Accused eventually pleaded guilty to second degree murder for both murders, sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 20 years.

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