A medical student charged with the murder of a fellow Dalhousie University student is showing great interest in every detail of the court proceedings and is even studying legal documents, his lawyer says.

Lawyer Eugene Tan was speaking Monday outside Halifax provincial court during a break on the first day of the preliminary inquiry for his client William Sandeson.

"He's investing a lot of time in his own defence and he's reading everything ... that's been given to me," Tan said.

"He's doing his own research. He very much wants to be part of what's going on ... Whatever he can get his hands on in terms of legal reading, he's doing that. He's putting his time to use."

When asked how his client is coping, Tan said: "He's pretty strong mentally."

Hearing to continue Wednesday

Sandeson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Taylor Samson, whose body has not been found. Police say the two young men knew each other.

The charge against Sandeson was laid Aug. 20, 2015, four days after Samson was reported missing in Halifax.

Two witnesses testified Monday, but any evidence presented during the inquiry is covered by a standard publication ban.

The hearing, which was adjourned early because of an approaching blizzard, is scheduled to resume Wednesday.

Sandeson, a former varsity track athlete who was supposed to start his medical studies last fall, appeared to be watching the hearing closely, at times taking notes and conversing with Tan.

Dressed in a long-sleeved blue, plaid shirt and tan pants, Sandeson appeared calm and focused.

7 more days

Seven other days in February have been scheduled for the hearing, which will determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.

Taylor Samson was a physics student at Dalhousie.

A search warrant document describing some of the circumstances in the case was obtained by three media outlets before it was sealed by a judge.

They reported that the document alleges Samson was involved in a drug deal involving marijuana before his death.

Investigators subsequently searched two properties in Sandeson's hometown of Truro, N.S., saying they discovered several items of interest.

After a focus hearing in November, Tan said outside the courtroom that the case against his client is largely circumstantial.