Judge Orders Bitcoin Wallet Laptop Returned to Family of Convicted Killer in Canada
Judge orders laptop returned to Sandeson's family
A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge has ordered that a laptop holding a Bitcoin wallet be returned to the family of William Sandeson. A Bitcoin wallet is a digital place where Bitcoin is stored and accessed, usually with a laptop or phone.
Justice John Bodurtha ruled on Tuesday that prosecutors had not proved the cryptocurrency was linked to the killing of Dalhousie University student Taylor Samson in 2015. Sandeson, who is serving a life sentence, appeared virtually at the hearing in Halifax. He had filed a motion in April seeking the return of personal items seized when police searched his apartment after his arrest in 2015.
Key numbers and rulings
- The wallet has been valued at anywhere from C$8,000 to more than C$200,000.
- About $3,600 (C$5,000) in cash found in Sandeson's apartment will not be returned.
- Samson's family brought a wrongful death lawsuit in which the cryptocurrency was at the center.
- Sandeson will be eligible for parole in 2030.
Why Bitcoin is being returned but cash is not
Bodurtha said: "The Crown has not met its burden to demonstrate the cryptocurrency was used as part of the drug transaction, proceeds of crime, or otherwise tainted by criminality." He added that its potential use in the deal was "hypothetical."
The judge made a different ruling on the cash. He found the money was "offence-related property," so it will not be returned.
Disagreement over the wallet's value
Sandeson has said the Bitcoin was worth between about $5,800 and $7,200 (C$8,000 to C$10,000), according to Global News. A lawyer representing Samson's family in a separate wrongful death lawsuit has said it could now be worth more than $144,000 (C$200,000).
Background of the Sandeson case
Sandeson, then 23 and about to start medical school at Dalhousie University, arranged for Samson, 22, to come to his apartment on August 15, 2015, to sell him cannabis that Sandeson had arranged to buy for C$40,000, according to prosecutors at his 2023 trial. Sandeson shot Samson, kept the drugs and the money, and later admitted to dumping his body in a river that feeds the Bay of Fundy. Samson's remains have never been found.
Sandeson was convicted of first-degree murder in 2017, but an appeals court overturned the verdict in 2020. At a second trial in 2023, he admitted to shooting Samson but said he acted in self-defense. A jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, which carries an automatic life sentence. He is serving his sentence in Quebec.
What remains unclear about the wallet
Global News did not report how much Bitcoin the wallet holds. The value estimates from Sandeson and from Samson's family's lawyer also differ, and the court found the claimed link between the cryptocurrency and the crime was not proved.
Where this report comes from
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.