Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Dennis Oland to stand trial for second-degree murder in father's death

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Dec, 2014 10:42 AM

    SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The family of Dennis Oland said they were devastated Friday after he was ordered to stand trial on a charge of second-degree murder in his father's death.

    Richard Oland, a prominent businessman, an officer of the Order of Canada and part of the well-known Maritime family that owns Moosehead Breweries, was found dead in his office in Saint John, N.B., on July 7, 2011.

    The 69-year-old left Moosehead Breweries in the 1980s and went on to work in the trucking business and served as a director of a number of firms including Ganong Bros. and the United Way of Greater Saint John.

    Dennis Oland, 46, sat in the front row of provincial court with his wife Lisa and mother Constance as Judge Ronald LeBlanc delivered his ruling Friday following a preliminary inquiry. He did not offer any reaction after the decision.

    But his family said in a statement that they know he is innocent.

    "Throughout this ordeal our faith in him continues to be absolutely unwavering," the family said.

    "We are devastated that we will have to endure a trial but we know Dennis will be found innocent in an objective and fair process in a court of law.

    "The question of who is really responsible for Dick's death haunts us. We despair at the time that has been lost and worry the perpetrator of this terrible crime may now never be found and brought to justice."

    Defence lawyer Gary Miller said he was not pleased with the ruling.

    "Obviously we're disappointed with Judge LeBlanc's decision, but plain and simply we remain very confident that Dennis will be vindicated at trial," Miller said outside court.

    "It's an incredibly low threshold that the Crown has to meet at this stage in the proceedings. I've been doing this 37 years and this is the first time I've ever contested a murder committal at a preliminary inquiry."

    Dennis Oland was arrested about a year ago and granted bail. He has been ordered to return to court Feb. 2 to enter a plea.

    A publication ban is in effect on the evidence presented at the hearing, which lasted 37 days and heard from 42 witnesses.

    Saint John police Chief Bill Reid said in November 2013 that Richard Oland died after repeated blows, but he wouldn't elaborate.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    'My captain, bon voyage':Hockey greats bid final farewell to Jean Beliveau

    'My captain, bon voyage':Hockey greats bid final farewell to Jean Beliveau
    MONTREAL — On a day when the elite of the hockey world and Canadian politics turned out to honour Jean Beliveau, it was another Montreal Canadiens star who summed it up best.

    'My captain, bon voyage':Hockey greats bid final farewell to Jean Beliveau

    Ontario doctors who refuse treatment on moral grounds must give referral: new rules

    Ontario doctors who refuse treatment on moral grounds must give referral: new rules
    TORONTO — Canada's largest medical regulator wants to change its policies so that doctors who refuse to perform certain procedures — such as abortions — on moral grounds must refer patients to another doctor.

    Ontario doctors who refuse treatment on moral grounds must give referral: new rules

    New housing price index up 0.1 per cent in October: Statistics Canada

    New housing price index up 0.1 per cent in October: Statistics Canada
    OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says its new housing price index rose 0.1 per cent in October, following an identical rise in September.

    New housing price index up 0.1 per cent in October: Statistics Canada

    Oil's slide expected to surface at provincial-federal finance ministers' meeting

    Oil's slide expected to surface at provincial-federal finance ministers' meeting
    OTTAWA — The topic of sliding oil prices is expected to surface this weekend when provincial finance ministers from across Canada have their first face-to-face meeting with federal counterpart Joe Oliver.

    Oil's slide expected to surface at provincial-federal finance ministers' meeting

    Supreme Court to hear federal challenge to Omar Khadr youth status

    Supreme Court to hear federal challenge to Omar Khadr youth status
    TORONTO — A decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to hear the federal government's challenge of Omar Khadr's youth status stunned his lawyers on Thursday, although not much would have changed for him if the decision had gone the other way.

    Supreme Court to hear federal challenge to Omar Khadr youth status

    Extending life of CF-18s to 2025 to cost about $400 million: independent report

    Extending life of CF-18s to 2025 to cost about $400 million: independent report
    OTTAWA — A long-awaited market analysis into which fighter jet could replace the CF-18s tells the Harper government it can postpone a decision and keep flying the current fleet until 2025, but it will cost roughly $400 million.

    Extending life of CF-18s to 2025 to cost about $400 million: independent report