R. v. Sandeson

R. v. Sandeson

On the limited weighing required at committal, the Crown led admissible circumstantial and forensic evidence (victim's blood and DNA in accused's apartment, trunk and duffle, mixed DNA on a recovered 9 mm handgun, surveillance footage, contemporaneous texts showing lure and timing, inconsistent narratives and post-offence concealment and disposal conduct) that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, could accept and from which it could reasonably infer that the accused unlawfully caused the victim's death with the requisite mens rea and that the killing was planned and deliberate; accordingly the accused was committed to trial for first degree murder.

Citation
2016 NSPC 18
Parties
Crown: Her Majesty the Queen; Accused: William Michael Sandeson; Victim: Taylor Samson
Court
Nova Scotia Provincial Court
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
29 March 2016
Procedural Posture
Criminal First Degree Murder / Committal (preliminary Inquiry) Decision
Outcome
Accused committed to trial for first degree murder
Legal Topics
Committal Test, First Degree Murder, Planning and Deliberation, Circumstantial Evidence, Admissibility of Statements
Source Language
English
Criminal Law Evidence Law Forensic Evidence Committal Test First Degree Murder Planning and Deliberation Circumstantial Evidence Admissibility of Statements

Case Brief

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Parties

Her Majesty the Queen

Crown

William Michael Sandeson

Accused

Taylor Samson

Victim

Procedural Posture

Criminal First Degree Murder / Committal (preliminary Inquiry) Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether there is any evidence upon which a reasonable jury properly instructed could convict the accused of first degree murder
  2. 2 Whether the victim is dead
  3. 3 Whether the accused caused the death unlawfully

Ratio Decidendi

On the limited weighing required at committal, the Crown led admissible circumstantial and forensic evidence (victim's blood and DNA in accused's apartment, trunk and duffle, mixed DNA on a recovered 9 mm handgun, surveillance footage, contemporaneous texts showing lure and timing, inconsistent narratives and post-offence concealment and disposal conduct) that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, could accept and from which it could reasonably infer that the accused unlawfully caused the victim's death with the requisite mens rea and that the killing was planned and deliberate; accordingly the accused was committed to trial for first degree murder.

Court Disposition

Accused committed to trial for first degree murder

Orders

  • William Michael Sandeson is committed to trial on the charge of first degree murder as charged