William Sandeson planned to kill 22-year-old Taylor Samson on the night of Aug. 15, 2015, the jury in his first-degree murder trial heard Tuesday.
In the Crown’s closing arguments, Prosecutor Kim McOnie told the court that Sandeson, 24, lured Samson to his Henry Street apartment as part of a pre-arranged drug deal.
READ: Murder victim last seen at William Sandeson’s apartment building, prosecutor tells jury
McOnie said the Crown believes Sandeson then shot Samson in the head and stole the 20 pounds of marijuana that he had brought with him.
“The burden is always on the Crown to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Sandeson did kill Mr. Samson in the way that we described that he did,” said Crown Attorney Susan MacKay outside court.
WATCH: Last images of Taylor Samson shown to jury in William Sandeson murder trial
McOnie said Sandeson had already used tens of thousands of dollars off a line of credit he got for medical school — despite the fact he hadn’t started classes yet — and needed money.
The Crown believes Sandeson was alone with Samson when the 22-year-old was fatally shot in the back of the head at close range with a 9mm handgun.
McOnie told the jury that Sandeson then moved Samson’s body to the bathroom, where he dealt with his remains.
The Crown said Sandeson removed Samson’s body from his apartment in a large black duffel bag. They believe it’s the same black duffel bag that was found at the Sandeson family farm in Lower Truro, N.S., that tested positive for Samson’s DNA.
WATCH: Tarp, duffel bag had Taylor Samson’s blood, jury in Sandeson murder trial told
McOnie told the court that the Crown can’t tell the jury where Taylor Samson’s remains are – but that they don’t need to.
In order for the jury to find Sandeson guilty of first-degree murder, McOnie said they need to accept that Sandeson planned and deliberately killed Samson.
It’s unclear what impact not having a body will have on the jury.
“The fact that there’s no body is something that of course they’re going to consider, along with all the other evidence,” MacKay said.
READ MORE: How do police lay murder charges without a body?
Family and friends of Taylor Samson’s have been present every day of the trial.
Sandeson’s family however, have been noticeably absent.
The family addressed the issue on Tuesday, saying they were given two subpoenas in March to appear as Crown witnesses between April 18 and June 13. Because there was an exclusion order, witnesses are not allowed to be inside the courtroom until they conclude their testimony.
The Sandeson’s say they were never called as witnesses and therefore, “kept away for the entire duration.”
A statement provided by the family to Global News reads in part:
“We are disappointed and disturbed by the Crown’s use of subpoenas to keep us out of the courtroom for the entire trial period.”
For their part, the Crown says they did have the family under subpoena but at some point told the defence that they would not be calling them. It’s unclear when that conversation happened.
“Certainly, it was never our intent to try and keep the Sandeson family from attending this trial,” MacKay said.
WATCH: William Sandeson not cold-blooded killer, criminal mastermind: defence
The Crown concluded its closing arguments by asking the jury to find William Sandeson guilty in the first-degree murder of Taylor Samson.
Judge Josh Arnold is scheduled to deliver his charge to the jury on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Once final instructions are complete, the jury should begin deliberations. They will stay together until they reach a verdict in the case.
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