William Sandeson denied bail in case of slain Dalhousie student

A Halifax university student who is accused of killing a fellow student has been denied bail.

Judge Jamie Campbell ruled Friday in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia that 23-year-old William Sandeson will remain in jail as he awaits a trial. A publication ban protects the details of the evidence presented in court during his two-day bail hearing this week.

Sandeson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Taylor Samson, who was last seen on Aug. 15 and whose body has not been found.

Samson, of Amherst, N.S., was a physics student at Dalhousie University, while Sandeson had just been accepted into Dalhousie University's faculty of medicine. He was arrested and charged a few days before he was set to start as a first-year student.

"I think he deserved not getting bail. He doesn't deserve bail," Samson's mother, Linda Boutilier, said Friday afternoon  outside of court.

"My concern is finding my son. I'm angry, I still don't have my son. We can't do a burial, we can't do anything for my son — he's out there somewhere."

She said the family is desperate to find her son's remains.

"We're all together here — for Taylor. We all want Taylor home. We need some closure, that's what we need."

Earlier this week, Crown attorney Susan MacKay opposed Sandeson's release, saying he is considered a flight risk and is also at risk to reoffend.

Sandeson's lawyer, Eugene Tan, argued that Sandeson has "a constitutional right for reasonable bail" and pointed out his client has no criminal history.

But Campbell ruled that releasing the accused would undermine the public's confidence in the justice system, one of the main tests to determine if bail is appropriate.

Tan said he will be talking to his client about options going forward, including applying for a bail review in 90 days, or waiving a preliminary inquiry and going straight to trial. Because Sandeson is behind bars, a speedy trial is desirable, he said.

"We have a fairly good sense of the case so far. Disclosure is fairly complete."

Tan, who knew Sandeson before he became a client, said the Sandeson family is under a lot of strain.

"It is difficult for them."

Following Samson's disappearance, investigators searched two properties in Sandeson's hometown of Lower Truro.

Although officers said they discovered several items of interest, the victim's body has not been found. That led to Boutilier making an emotional plea this week for help finding her son's body.

Documents related to a search warrant allege Samson, 22, was involved in a marijuana drug deal before his death.