Jury deliberations continue in murder trial of medical student
The 12-member jury in the trial of Halifax medical student William Sandeson – accused of killing a physics student during a drug deal as part of a plan to alleviate his debt – is expected to return to deliberations on Saturday.
Sandeson is charged with the first-degree murder of 22-yearold Taylor Samson, whose body has never been found.
The jury of six men and six women had deliberated for a total of about 11 hours before taking a break on Friday.
They were scheduled to return to Nova Scotia Supreme Court on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. to continue discussions.
Justice Josh Arnold gave jurors his final instructions before deliberations began at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Arnold told the jury there are four possible verdicts in the case: Sandeson could be found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, or he could be found not guilty.
He told jurors their verdict must be unanimous, although they do not have to arrive at a conclusion in the same way.
The trial heard Samson went to Sandeson’s apartment on Aug. 15, 2015, to sell him nine kilograms of marijuana for $40,000.
Court heard Samson was last seen alive on video walking into Sandeson’s apartment shortly before 10:30 p.m.
DNA matching Samson’s was recovered from a bullet, gun, duffel bag and other items seized from Sandeson’s Henry Street apartment in Halifax and his family’s farm in Truro, the jury heard.
During his instructions Thursday, Arnold read both the Crown and defence theories of what happened.
Arnold said the Crown believes Sandeson lured Samson to his apartment as part of a drug deal.
Arnold said the defence position is that the Crown has been unable to prove the elements of the first-degree murder charge.