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True Crime General

Second Degree

From Med School to Murder, The Story Behind the Shocking Will Sandeson Trials

by (author) Kayla Hounsell

Publisher
Nimbus Publishing
Initial publish date
Nov 2024
Category
General, Forensics, Abductions, Kidnappings & Missing Persons
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781774712771
    Publish Date
    Nov 2024
    List Price
    $26.95

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Description

An expanded and updated edition of the bestselling work of true crime from award-winning journalist Kayla Hounsell, exploring the high-profile 2017 Will Sandeson murder case.

"I pulled the trigger."

In 2017, a jury found Will Sandeson guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Taylor Samson. A "good kid" from a good family, Sandeson was about to start classes at Dalhousie University's medical school when Samson disappeared. The trial exposed a dangerous world of drugs, greed, and misplaced loyalties—including a private investigator accused of switching sides. Sandeson was ultimately sentenced to life in prison.

He immediately appealed; in 2020, Sandeson's conviction was overturned and a new trial ordered. In a shocking twist, Sandeson finally took the stand, detailing in four days of explosive testimony how and why he killed Samson, and for the first time offering an explanation of what he'd done with Samson's body.

An updated and expanded follow-up to award-winning journalist Kayla Hounsell's First Degree: From Med School to Murder, Second Degree features all-new chapters and never-before-published material. Accented with 25 colour photos, this riveting work tells the powerful story of a drug deal gone terribly wrong and examines the crime, the courts, and the killer's crusade for freedom.

A portion of the royalties from this book will help fund a scholarship at Amherst Regional High School in Taylor Samson's name.

About the author

Kayla Hounsell is an award-winning journalist, recognized for feature writing, diversity reporting, and investigative journalism. She is the CBC's National Reporter for the Maritime provinces. Based in Halifax, and originally from Newfoundland, she has worked all over Canada, in multiple African countries and the United Kingdom. A graduate of Carleton University's School of Journalism, she has also taught journalism at the University of King's College. Her first book, First Degree, was a national bestseller.

Kayla Hounsell's profile page

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