Taylor Samson‘s DNA was found on items seized from William Sandeson‘s apartment at 1210 Henry St. in Halifax and at his family farm in Lower Truro, N.S., a Nova Scotia Supreme Court heard Wednesday.
Sandeson, 24, is accused of killing Samson in August 2015.
His body has never been located.
Florence Celestin, a forensic specialist who works with the RCMP in Ontario, told the court that she has been in the forensic field since 2002, working on more than 740 cases and testifying at a dozen trials.
READ MORE: Tarp, duffel bag had Taylor Samson’s blood, jury in Sandeson murder trial told
Celestin says two swabs taken from the bathroom and kitchen of Sandeson’s apartment contained Samson’s DNA.
She testified that swabs of floor boards taken from Sandeson’s kitchen, a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun found inside a safe in Sandeson’s bedroom and a bullet police recovered from a window frame at the apartment all contained Samson’s DNA.
The 22-year-old’s DNA was also found on a swab taken from the trunk of Sandeson’s vehicle. In addition, a shower curtain, garbage bag, tarp and duffel bag that were seized from inside an old ice cream truck on a farm belonging to Sandeson’s family, all tested positive for Samson’s DNA.
WATCH: William Sandeson murder trial hears police searched family farm looking for body
The jury also heard evidence from Adam Hayden, a manager at the CIBC in Truro.
He told the court that Sandeson opened a $200,000 line of credit in 2013 to attend medical school. In August 2015, the balance on the line of credit was around $76,000.
Gilles Marchand, an RCMP forensic analyst, took the stand Wednesday afternoon. He testified that he was able to recover data, photos and text messages from three phones that police officers seized as part of their investigation.
Marchand read a few text messages to the court. One exchange, on Aug. 16, 2015, was between Sandeson and a woman by the name of Amanda. In it, Sandeson says his student loan is paid off.
Another text message that Marchand read to the jury was between Sandeson and his mother in May of 2015. In that conversation, Sandeson asks his mother how much money is left in the RESP.
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A conversation between Sandeson and his father was also entered as evidence. In that conversation, Sandeson and his father discuss a mail that his mother received from the bank regarding Sandeson’s line of credit.
Michelle Dooks-Fahie, a detective with the Halifax Regional Police, testified that she was tasked with collecting items that may have had Taylor Samson’s DNA on it. She told the court that she went to a Halifax home and after speaking with Samson’s girlfriend and mother, seized a razor and toiletry kit.
The court heard that those items were later used to help build a DNA profile for Samson.
Ashley Skidmore was the final witness to testify on Wednesday.
He works as a booking technician and is a civilian member of the Halifax police. He told the jury that he took photographs of marks, scars and tattoos of Sandeson in August 2015. One of the photos was distributed to the jury. Skidmore identified it as being of Sandeson’s right shoulder, which was bruised.
WATCH: Jury hears William Sandeson told roommate not to come home on night of alleged murder
Testimony in the case continues on Thursday.
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