Halifax jury shown photos of wounds on body of former med student accused of murder
CTV
A former Halifax university student on trial for killing another student during a drug deal completed his testimony Thursday, insisting he had no plan to kill anyone and that he shot the other man in self-defence.
A former Halifax university student on trial for killing another student during a drug deal completed his testimony Thursday, insisting he had no plan to kill anyone and that he shot the other man in self-defence.
William Sandeson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2015 death of Dalhousie University physics student Taylor Samson, who was 22 when he was shot to death in Sandeson's apartment.
Earlier this week, Sandeson told a Nova Scotia Supreme Court jury he fired his gun at Samson when the drug dealer lunged at him during a violent dispute over nine kilograms of marijuana worth $40,000. Samson had intended to sell the drugs to Sandeson.
The Crown is arguing that Sandeson, also a drug dealer, had planned to kill Samson and steal his marijuana because the accused was deep in debt and needed the money to pay for medical school -- allegations Sandeson has firmly denied.
"I'm suggesting to you, Mr. Sandeson, that you set Taylor (Samson) up to kill him," Crown prosecutor Carla Ball told Sandeson on Thursday, but he disagreed.
"I pulled the trigger, but I never wanted to hurt anyone that night," he said.
Sandeson testified that at one point, he and Samson -- a much larger man -- wrestled for control of Sandeson's 9-mm handgun, but Sandeson said he managed to break free and point the firearm at the other man.
