William Sandeson's preliminary inquiry on murder charge set for February

The case ofaDalhousie University student accused of first-degree murder in the deatha fellowstudent is scheduled to return to court in three months.

A five-day preliminary inquiryforWilliam Sandeson is set for Feb. 22. The 23-year-oldis accused of killing Taylor Samson, 22,in August.

• Taylor Samson's mother pleads for help finding Dalhousie student's body

Samson's body has never been found.

Sandeson's lawyer, Eugene Tan, wants to call 25 civilian witnesses atthe preliminary, but Crown prosecutor Susan MacKay is questioning why Tanis asking for so many.

The lawyers will return to court Jan.13 for a focus hearing to try to whittle down the list of witnesses.

Samson disappeared on Aug. 15 and police say he was on his way to make a drug deal with a new client.

In documents filed with the court, police said Samson was carrying about 1.8 kilograms of marijuana. They said he was a victim of a so-called drug rip and someone wanted to steal the drugs from him.

Sandeson was arrested a couple of days after Samson's disappearance. He has been in custody since. Police searched Sandeson's Halifax apartment and a property belonging to the family in Lower Truro.