Nova ScotiaTwice-convicted killer Tyrell Peter Dechamp will serve at least 25 years in prison before he can begin applying for parole.Tyrell Dechamp pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Naricho ClaytonBlair Rhodes · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 4:21 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesTyrell Dechamp is escorted by a sheriff’s deputy following an appearance in Halifax provincial court in December 2017. (CBC)Twice-convicted killer Tyrell Peter Dechamp will serve at least 25 years in prison before he can begin applying for parole.The 35-year-old Halifax man appeared in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax on Wednesday for a parole eligibility hearing after his conviction for second-degree murder in the killing of Naricho Clayton, 23, more than nine years ago.Court was told that on April 19, 2016, Dechamp walked up to a parked car on Gottingen Street and opened fire, killing Clayton and wounding the other man in the vehicle.Dechamp pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and attempted murder, just as his trial was scheduled to begin.Second-degree murder carries with it an automatic life sentence, with a judge setting parole eligibility, which can range from 10 to 25 years. Tyler Richards murderThat calculation was complicated by the fact that, two days before he killed Clayton, Dechamp murdered former basketball star Tyler Richards, 29. Dechamp was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Richards, although news of that conviction was kept secret for five years to protect Dechamp’s right to a fair trial in the Clayton case. But there was no trial because Dechamp pleaded guilty.A first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years.The Crown and defence jointly recommended that Dechamp serve at least 12 years in the Clayton murder. Justice Jamie Campbell accepted the recommendation, but he stressed that the longer term for the Richards murder is the one that applies and Dechamp will have to serve 25 years before he can begin applying for parole.Apology to familyDechamp was not in the courtroom for Wednesday’s hearing. He appeared by video from a prison in British Columbia. “I apologize to the family for the harm I caused,” Dechamp said when given the opportunity to speak.Earlier, Clayton’s younger sister Natavia Gray read a victim impact statement on behalf of her family. She and her mother also spoke to reporters outside court.’Heavy day’ for family“Today has been a very heavy day for me and my family,” she said.“Today is a day that received some sort of justice for our brother Naricho. It does not take away the pain that our family feels, but we are glad that we will receive some sort of justice for him. All I can say, it was a dreadful day but we’re happy to receive justice.”Clayton’s mother, Eleanor Gray, was too upset to speak in court. But she did speak outside afterward.“Words can’t explain how I feel, the loss of my son, but I know he’s with me each and every day,” she told reporters.“And I have his son, he looks just like him and I love him and I know it’s going to be hard for him to get through life but you know that’s why we have a big family all close. Naricho will never die as long as I have him in my heart.”MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORBlair Rhodes has been a journalist for more than 40 years, the last 31 with CBC. His primary focus is on stories of crime and public safety. He can be reached at blair.rhodes@cbc.ca
Halifax man to serve at least 25 years in prison after 2nd murder conviction
