A nine-millimetre Smith and Wesson gun, a box of ammunition and a bullet removed from William Sandeson‘s apartment were just some of the evidence the jury in his murder trial saw Thursday.
READ: William Sandeson ‘confident’ as murder trial begins in Halifax: defence
Sgt. Sandra Johnston spent the day in the witness box. She was a forensic identification officer in the summer of 2015 and was one of the officers who processed Sandeson’s Henry Street apartment.
Sandeson, 24, was arrested in August 2015 and charged with the first-degree murder of Taylor Samson, 22.
Both men were students at Dalhousie University at the time. Samson was studying physics and Sandeson was days away from starting medical school.
Police have never said publicly how Samson died and have never been able to locate his remains.
Get daily National news
Johnston testified that she photographed and videotaped Sandeson’s apartment on Aug. 19, 2015 before processing the scene.
WATCH: William Sandeson’s murder trial shown video of initial police interview
She told the court what appeared to be blood staining was found in both the bathroom and the kitchen. Johnston said police used a saw to cut up sections of the kitchen floor and search for any evidence of blood pooling underneath it. Several pieces of flooring were shown to the court and entered as evidence.
Johnston said police seized a black backpack from one of the bedrooms in the apartment. She said the bag smelled like decomposition and contained $2,270. A light red liquid, believed to be blood, was found on the money, she said.
READ MORE: Murder victim last seen at William Sandeson’s apartment building, prosecutor tells jury
Johnston testified the bag was located in the same room that had a knife, roll of duct tape, a bottle of Febreze and a Capital Health ID belonging to William Sandeson on the dresser.
She also said a “bundle of money” was found in a garbage can in the bathroom of the apartment. When it was counted by investigators, it totalled $5,000, all in $20 bills.
While officers were searching the apartment, Johnston testified they found a bullet hole near the window.
The seven-man, seven-woman jury was shown the bullet that was removed from the window casing in the kitchen and a nine-millimetre handgun that was also found in the apartment. Johnston said the gun contained one live round of ammunition and that additional bullets were located in a safe.
Testimony in the trial resumes Monday.
Here’s a look at some of the evidence entered as part of William Sandeson’s murder trial:
- Michael Kovrig reflects on ‘brutally hard’ Chinese detention: ‘You’re totally alone’
- Conservatives set to table non-confidence motion Tuesday. What to expect
- After controversial directive, Quebec now says anglophones have right to English health services
- Something’s fishy: 1 in 5 seafood products are mislabelled, study finds
Comments