William Sandeson has been discovered responsible of second-degree homicide within the killing of Taylor Samson in Halifax in August 2015.
Sandeson was convicted of first-degree homicide in a 2017 trial, however he appealed his conviction and a second trial was ordered.
Nova Scotia Supreme Courtroom Justice James Chipman handed the case to the jury on Thursday afternoon. Jurors continued their deliberations by way of Friday and into late Saturday afternoon earlier than delivering a verdict.
The jury had 4 doable verdicts — first-degree homicide, second-degree homicide, manslaughter or not responsible of all prices.
William Sandeson discovered responsible of second diploma homicide.
—@CBCBlairRhodes
The jury was polled to see if the decision was unanimous. It was.
‘He is evil’
“I thank the Crown for his or her arduous work,” stated Linda Boutilier, Samson’s mom. “I do know it is not what we wished. We wished [first-degree murder]. However we will take what we will get.
“He is evil. There is a particular place in hell for him and that is all I’ve bought to say.”
The choose allowed jurors to suggest the interval Sandeson should serve earlier than starting to use for parole. The vary is a minimal of 10 years to a most of 25 years.
9 jurors voted for 25 years, two voted for 22 and one voted for 10. The suggestions usually are not binding.
“There have been the vast majority of jurors that got here in to counsel a parole ineligibility interval above 20 years and just one on the low finish of 10 years, which is the minimal,” stated Carla Ball, one in every of two Crown prosecutors. “So, that speaks to the abhorrent nature of the crime, in our view.”
Sentencing set for April
Sandeson was approaching his first yr of medical faculty at Dalhousie College on the time of the killing. Samson was a Dalhousie physics pupil.
Throughout the second trial, Sandeson admitted to capturing Samson throughout a drug deal, however claimed it was in self-defence.
“It seems that the jury has rejected the self-defence assertion of declare of the accused and that’s the reason they got here to the dedication of second-degree homicide,” Ball stated.
Sandeson testified he put Samson’s physique in a stream that results in the Bay of Fundy within the Truro space. The physique has by no means been recovered.
Sentencing has been set for April 20-21. Two days will permit for sufferer affect statements.