Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Richard Oland Crime Scene Was Among Bloodiest Officer Had Seen: Court Hears

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Oct, 2015 10:39 AM
    SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A forensic identification officer with the Saint John police department says some of the 40 blows to the head of Richard Oland were caused by a hammer-type instrument while others were inflicted with a blade-like weapon.
     
    Sgt. Mark Smith is facing cross-examination today in the second-degree murder trial of Dennis Oland in New Brunswick's Court of Queen's Bench.
     
    Oland has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
     
    Smith says the blade-like weapon left wounds that were six to seven centimetres long.
     
    Oland, who was 69, was found lying in a pool of blood in his Saint John office on July 7, 2011.
     
    Under questioning from defence lawyer Gary Miller, Smith said it was one of the bloodiest crime scenes he had ever seen.
     
    "Would you agree there was a great deal of force used?," Miller asked.
     
    "It would be an opinion, yes," Smith replied.
     
    The murder weapon has never been found.
     
    Miller questioned Smith about a logbook that Maureen Adamson — Richard Oland's secretary — had given Dennis Oland the evening of July 6, 2011 to deliver to his mother. During earlier testimony, Adamson had indicated the logbook was left on a table in the middle of the office.
     
    The court has been shown pictures of blood spatter on that table, but Smith has testified all tests on the logbook were negative for the presence of blood.
     
    Miller asked Smith that if the logbook has been in the office at the time of the crime, would it possibly have blood on it.
     
    "A possibility, yes," Smith answered.
     
    Many of Miller's questions Wednesday focused on Smith's examination of Dennis Oland's silver Volkswagen Golf and a red reusable grocery bag in the trunk.
     
    Smith said the car was searched for almost 16 hours and a number of different tests were conducted but there were no positive tests confirming any blood.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Retroactive change of law prompts OPP to drop probe of RCMP gun data destruction

    Retroactive change of law prompts OPP to drop probe of RCMP gun data destruction
    The Ontario Provincial Police have dropped an investigation into the RCMP's destruction of gun registry data, saying the alleged offences no longer exist under a back-dated, retroactive Conservative law passed last spring.

    Retroactive change of law prompts OPP to drop probe of RCMP gun data destruction

    Families First: Minister Lisa Raitt Urges Airlines To Stop Separating Parents, Children

     Canada's transport minister quietly wrote to the heads of every major airline in the country earlier this year to try and stamp out a practice where parents were being seated separately from their children on flights.

    Families First: Minister Lisa Raitt Urges Airlines To Stop Separating Parents, Children

    Statistics Canada says gross domestic product grew by 0.3 per cent in July

    OTTAWA — Looking to shake off its slump, the Canadian economy grew for a second consecutive month in July, helped by a continuing rebound in the oilsands following slowdowns related to maintenance and forest fires.

    Statistics Canada says gross domestic product grew by 0.3 per cent in July

    Guy Turcotte's murder trial loses a juror; and then there were 11

    SAINT-JEROME, Que. — The trial of a former Quebec doctor who is charged with murdering his children has lost a juror.

    Guy Turcotte's murder trial loses a juror; and then there were 11

    Toronto Zoo Panda Pregnant With Two Fetuses; Births Expected Within Weeks

    Toronto Zoo Panda Pregnant With Two Fetuses; Births Expected Within Weeks
    The panda watch is on, and the mood is tense at the Toronto Zoo as staff wait — and hope — for successful births of two panda cubs some time in mid-October.

    Toronto Zoo Panda Pregnant With Two Fetuses; Births Expected Within Weeks

    Audience there but not money: CBC CEO disputes Harper comment over funding

    Audience there but not money: CBC CEO disputes Harper comment over funding
    CEO Hubert Lacroix says the CBC has healthy ratings, but is crippled by a broken funding model.

    Audience there but not money: CBC CEO disputes Harper comment over funding