Lawyers leave Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Dartmouth on Tuesday during a break at William Michael Sandeson's retrial on a charge of first-degree murder in the August 2015 disappearance of Taylor Samson. From left are Crown attorneys Kim McOnie and Carla Ball and defence lawyer Alison Craig. - Steve BruceThe Crown began calling evidence Tuesday after presenting its theory to the jury at a former Dalhousie University medical student’s trial on a charge of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors allege Samson, 22, went to Sandeson’s apartment on Henry Street in Halifax on the night of Aug. 15, 2015, to sell him nine kilograms of marijuana. William Michael Sandeson, shown in 2015, is on trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Dartmouth on a charge of first-degree murder. The jury trial started Monday and is set for 27 days, with Justice James Chipman presiding - Tim Krochak
Police gave Sandeson a drive home to his apartment before investigators reviewed the text messages. Their impression of Sandeson then changed, the Crown attorney said. “Taylor was not there. They did however discover some critical evidence enhanced their suspicion. This included what appeared to be drugs, a gun box, a DVR and cameras that appeared to be recording the entrance of his apartment.”A forensic technician reviewed the video from Sandeson’s recording system. He will testify that the video showed Samson walking down the hall of the apartment building carrying a duffle bag and entering Sandeson’s unit at about 10:30 p.m.
Sandeson’s former girlfriend is expected to testify she was told to stay away from the apartment until he gave her the OK to return at about 12:30 a.m.Justin Blades, a former Dalhousie track and field teammate of Sandeson, ultimately provided investigators “key information,” Ball said.
A search of Sandeson’s parents’ farm property near Truro led to the discovery of a duffle bag with a ripped strap that resembled the bag Samson had carried into the apartment, a shower curtain that tested positive for blood, gloves and other items, the jury was told.