Nova Scotia judge returns $200K Bitcoin wallet to killer’s family

• $200,000 Bitcoin wallet must be returned; no proof it was tied to Sandeson’s 2015 murder, judge says
• Ruling sets key Canadian precedent on crypto asset forfeiture

A Nova Scotia judge has ordered the return of a laptop containing a Bitcoin wallet worth more than $200,000 to the family of convicted killer William Sandeson, ruling prosecutors failed to prove the cryptocurrency was linked to his 2015 murder conviction. The court found the Crown could not show direct evidence connecting the digital assets to the crime, so the wallet does not qualify as “offence-related property” subject to state seizure.

On November 4, 2026, Global News reported the defense successfully countered the prosecution’s claims as hypothetical and unsubstantiated. The judge required concrete proof that assets were used in or resulted from criminal activity, holding the crypto wallet to the same standards as cash or standard bank accounts. The court emphasized the need for direct evidentiary links, irrespective of asset form.

The Sandeson family will recover the laptop with the Bitcoin wallet, but $5,000 in cash found at the scene will stay forfeited. CBC News confirmed the court accepted the cash was clearly related to the offence, unlike the crypto. The ruling establishes a Canadian precedent: courts now require prosecutors to trace cryptocurrencies directly to crimes before seizing them.

TradingView and Crypto Briefing report that similar disputes over crypto asset forfeiture are appearing worldwide, with courts in the US and UK also demanding clear evidence before authorizing seizures. Even in civil cases, governments must provide an evidentiary chain to win asset forfeiture.

As of November 4, 2026, 15:10 UTC, Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $80,638.92, up 4.293%, according to TradingView.