Dalhousie medical student William Sandeson, 24, will be sentenced Tuesday for the first-degree murder of fellow Dalhousie student Taylor Samson.
Samson, 22, was last seen alive on video, walking into Sandeson’s apartment on Henry Street in Halifax on the evening of Aug. 15, 2015. He is never seen leaving the apartment.
Despite searches by police officers and members of Samson’s family and friends, his remains have never been found.
-
![]()
William Sandeson found guilty of first-degree murder in Taylor Samson’s death -
![]()
What the jury in William Sandeson’s murder trial didn’t hear -
![]()
William Sandeson planned Taylor Samson’s murder, money was motive: Crown -
![]()
William Sandeson not cold blooded killer, criminal mastermind: defence -
![]()
Defence closes case in Sandeson trial, jury to hear closing arguments next week
A six-man, six-woman jury found Sandeson guilty of murder last month, after deliberating for 22 hours over four days.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. at Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax.
Get daily National news
A first-degree murder conviction comes with an automatic life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. Sandeson has been in custody since his arrest in August 2015. With time already served, he would be eligible to apply for parole in just over 23 years.
- Runny nose? Itchy? Experts say seasonal allergies worsening due to increase in pollen
- Frank Hayden, Canadian researcher who helped spearhead Special Olympics, dies at 96
- Parts of Ontario set for ‘first heat event of the season’: Environment Canada
- Vehicle crashes into Toronto fireworks store, causes 4-alarm fire
Although the sentence is automatic, it is expected to be an emotional day in court, as Samson’s loved ones will have their first opportunity to read victim impact statements about how Samson’s death has affected their lives.
Meanwhile, Sandeson has filed a notice of appeal with the court, indicating he would like to appeal his murder conviction.
The grounds for the appeal are that he was detained prior to his first interview and denied a right to counsel, that his cellphone was illegally searched and seized, that his apartment was illegally searched and that information shared by Bruce Webb — a private investigator hired by the defence but who helped the police in making their case — violated his solicitor-client privilege.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.