Ten years following the tragic murder of Taylor Samson in a south-end Halifax apartment, the legal battle against his killer continues to unfold. William Sandeson recently appeared via video from a Quebec prison before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, disputing his second-degree murder conviction and seeking either a stay of charges or a reduced sentence.
Sandeson was found guilty of second-degree murder in February 2023, marking his second conviction after an earlier first-degree murder conviction was overturned. He was mandated to serve a minimum of 7.5 additional years in prison before parole eligibility. The trials revealed that Sandeson and Samson met for a drug transaction at Sandeson’s residence, where instead of the agreed purchase of nine kilograms of marijuana for $40,000, Sandeson shot Samson, who remains missing.
Representing himself in court after being denied legal aid funding, Sandeson emphasized the conduct of a private investigator, Bruce Webb, hired by his legal team to interview witnesses. Webb uncovered that two individuals across from Sandeson’s apartment on the night of the murder had altered their initial statements to the police, revealing they heard a gunshot and witnessed a man slumped over at Sandeson’s kitchen table.
Sandeson argued that the police mishandled the disclosure of this crucial evidence and failed to promptly inform his legal team, alleging collaboration between the investigator and the state was concealed. Crown prosecutor Timothy O’Leary acknowledged the mishandling of evidence but opposed a stay of proceedings or sentence reduction for Sandeson, stating there was no conspiracy to convict him.
The court has deferred its decision on the matter as the legal battle continues.