Close X
Thursday, October 31, 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

    Head-On Crash In Nanaimo Kills A Teenager, Leaves Another In Critical Condition

    Head-On Crash In Nanaimo Kills A Teenager, Leaves Another In Critical Condition
    RCMP in the Vancouver Island city say the collision happened at around 10:30 Monday night.

    Head-On Crash In Nanaimo Kills A Teenager, Leaves Another In Critical Condition

    Acclaimed Sikh Scholar Dr Raghbir Singh Bains Honoured With 'The Sikh Award In Education'

    Acclaimed Sikh Scholar Dr Raghbir Singh Bains Honoured With 'The Sikh Award In Education'
    Virtually a living legend, Dr Raghbir Singh Bains is the first of its kind writer and creator of the ‘Encylopaedia of Sikhism’ on Multimedia technology which was released by the Prime Minister of Canada in the Canadian Parliament on Dec 11, 1996. 

    Acclaimed Sikh Scholar Dr Raghbir Singh Bains Honoured With 'The Sikh Award In Education'

    Damien Taylor Recalls Heavy Drug Use Before Pregnant Girlfriend CJ Fowler Found Dead

    Damien Taylor, now 24, told B.C. Supreme Court that an associate brought him and 16-year-old CJ Fowler to Kamloops from Terrace to sell drugs.

    Damien Taylor Recalls Heavy Drug Use Before Pregnant Girlfriend CJ Fowler Found Dead

    12 Countries, Including Canada, Reach Tentative Trans-Pacific Trade Deal

    12 Countries, Including Canada, Reach Tentative Trans-Pacific Trade Deal
    Today is a historic day; it is a great day for Canada, it is a great day for Canadians," Prime Minister Stephen Harper beamed during a news conference in Ottawa.

    12 Countries, Including Canada, Reach Tentative Trans-Pacific Trade Deal

    Canadian Taxi Drivers Raise $15,000 Dollars For Spiritual Centre Kelowna General Hospital

    Canadian Taxi Drivers Raise $15,000 Dollars For Spiritual Centre Kelowna General Hospital
    The funds were handed over to the hospital at an event organised at the Okanagan Sikh Temple in Rutland on Sunday

    Canadian Taxi Drivers Raise $15,000 Dollars For Spiritual Centre Kelowna General Hospital

    Accused Killer Son Of Former Top B.C. Mountie Suing RCMP Over Sexual Harassment

    Accused Killer Son Of Former Top B.C. Mountie Suing RCMP Over Sexual Harassment
     One of the three men charged in the 2014 slaying of a Vancouver teen has been identified as the son of a high-profile, former top Mountie who is suing the RCMP over allegations of sexual harassment.

    Accused Killer Son Of Former Top B.C. Mountie Suing RCMP Over Sexual Harassment