Family members of William Sandeson are blaming the Crown for keeping them away from his first-degree murder trial, which began in mid-April and is currently hearing closing arguments in Halifax.

Sandeson is accused in the August 2015 death of Taylor Samson, a fellow Dalhousie University student whose body has never been found.

Members of Sandeson's family attended the trial for the first time Monday at Nova Scotia Supreme Court. They returned Tuesday, at which time they distributed a handwritten statement to reporters explaining their absence.

"We are disappointed and disturbed by the Crown's use of subpoenas to keep us out of the courtroom for the entire trial period," the unsigned note read.

"Under the exclusion of witness process, anyone subpoenaed is not allowed to be present in the courtroom until after giving testimony. We were never called as witnesses."

'It was never our intent' to exclude family

Prosecutor Susan MacKay said it was never the Crown's intention to exclude Sandeson's family.

She said it was decided early on that their testimony wouldn't be needed and that was conveyed to the defence.

"I won't get into what discussions were held between defence counsel and the Crown," MacKay said outside court.

Sandeson's mother, father, younger brother and former girlfriend were among the group that started attending the trial this week.