Family, friends gather to remember university student police say was murdered

UPPER TANTALLON, N.S. – People gathered at a funeral home in a small community on Nova Scotia’s south coast on Wednesday to remember a university student who police say was killed last month inside a Halifax apartment.

Friends and family members filled the home to pay tribute at the private service to Taylor Samson, a 22-year-old physics student who disappeared Aug. 15 and whose remains have not been found.

William Sandeson, a 22-year-old varsity track athlete who was about to start classes at Dalhousie’s medical school, was charged with first-degree murder on Aug. 20, four days after Samson was reported missing.

Sandeson appeared in court last week and his lawyer said his client will seek bail and intends to enter a not guilty plea.

The case was put over to Sept. 24 to give the defence time to get more disclosure from the Crown.

A search warrant document was obtained by three media outlets recently before it was sealed by a judge.

They reported that the document alleges Samson was involved in a drug deal involving marijuana before his death.

Investigators subsequently searched two properties in Sandeson’s hometown of Truro, N.S., saying they discovered several items of interest.