Dal student disappeared during home invasion, accused says in videotaped interrogation

The man charged in the death of a Halifax university student sobbed heavily while being questioned by police in August 2015 as he described how the victim disappearedduring a home invasion.

The scene was included in a videotaped interrogation that was played for the jury Tuesday during the first-degree murder trial of William SandesoninNova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax.

Sandesonis accused in the death of Taylor Samson, a fellow Dalhousie University student whose body has not been recovered.

During opening statements last month, the Crown told the jury the two menhad negotiated a marijuana deal worth tens of thousands of dollars before Samson was killed.

Victim went missing during break-in

In the video played Tuesday in court, Sandesontoldpolice that men burst into his apartment during a home invasionandstruck both him and Samson. He saidSamson either left with the men or they took him, along with the marijuana they were negotiating over and cash.

At the time of the interrogation, Samson's disappearance was still being treated as a missing person's case. Sandeson was facing charges of kidnapping, trafficking and misleading police.

The officer respondedby pointing out that Sandeson's story didn'tmatch one he told another officer the day before, in which he claimed he never met with Samson that night.

In between sobs, Sandesontoldthe officerhe doesn't know where Samson is or if he's still alive.

The officer questioningSandesonrepeatedly said he believes the accused is a good guy who made a mistake, but Sandesonmostly satquietly as the officer spoke.

The video played for the jury hadbeen edited. The judge told the jury not to question why.

Second interrogation

It's the second interrogation the jury has watched during the trial, now in its third week.

The first time Sandesonwas interviewed, he was a witness, not a suspect. Police had tracked him down as the last number on Samson's cellphone.

That questioning was done in what police call a "soft" interview room with sunlight streaming in, an unlocked door and a comfortable sofa.

In it,Sandeson said Samson never showed up at his apartment the night they were supposed to do a drug deal.Sandesonalso sharedtexts with police he sent to Samson that night, complaining about him being a no-show.

Blair Rhodes live bloggedfrom court.