Jan. 17, 2019 - Dennis Oland murder retrial
The Dennis Oland murder retrial resumes today with continued testimony from Sgt. Mark Smith, head of forensic identification section.
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Day 20 of Dennis Oland's 2nd-degree murder retrial in the 2011 death of his father, multimillionaire Richard Oland, is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in #SaintJohn #NB . I'll be live tweeting from #court . Recap of yesterday's proceedings: CBC.ca/1.4979845 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxFk9AiXQAILZSI.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:15:16 PM -
Head of the Saint John Police Force's forensic identification section, Sgt. Mark Smith, will be back on the stand for continued cross-examination by #Oland defence lawyer Michael Lacy CBC.ca/1.4981353 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxFtNCrVYAAV59g.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:20:16 PM -
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Lawyers are conferencing at the moment and the start of the trial is delayed.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 1:40:33 PM
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Details about the pending storm here: CBC.ca/1.4981567 .by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:43:07 PM
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Only about 4 members of the public are here today, but Oland's mother Connie is present, as always, along with his uncle Jack Connell and aunt Jacqueline Olandby Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:43:43 PM
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3 Crown prosecutors and Oland's 3 defence lawyers are back in the courtroom. Trial should begin shortly...by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:45:39 PM
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Court of Queen's Bench Terrence Morrison is seated. Oland retrial is in session. Toronto-based defence lawyer Alan Gold proposes court not sit on Monday, due to storm Fredericton-based judge agrees.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:51:35 PM
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Lawyers return. There’s much concern about weather bomb approaching for Sunday/Monday with talk of cancelling Monday hearing and possibly entire week of trial if Lacy and Gold cannot get to SJ by Monday night from Toronto. All weather dependent.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 1:52:10 PM
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Tuesday will be weather-dependent, says Morrison. "We’ll just have to see. Mother Nature is what it is."by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:52:29 PM
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If court doesn't sit Tuesday, the whole week might be cancelled. Gold and fellow Toronto-based defence lawyer Michael Lacy both have a Supreme Court of Canada appearance in Ottawa on Friday and have to leave Saint John Thursday afternoon.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:55:19 PM
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Alan Gold also appears to back away from his headline grabbing announcement that defence lawyers would be arguing SJ police suffered from a diagnosable psychological condition related to extreme tunnel vision in its conduct of the investigation.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 1:55:25 PM
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Sitting for only 1.5 days doesn't make much sense, suggests Gold. He informs the judge that defence and Crown are working on reaching some more agreed statements of fact, which could save some time. (Some witnesses might not have to be called and/or questioning will be shorter.)by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:57:47 PM
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Gold gives no reason for backtracking on what he previously called a “novel” defence but when Justice Morrison suggests filing briefs on it for consideration during storm week Gold simply says they have dropped the idea - raised just last week.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 1:58:09 PM
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Sgt. Mark Smith, head of the Saint John Police Force's forensic identification unit, is back on the stand for continued cross-examination by defence lawyer Michael Lacy.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 1:58:27 PM
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Lacy questioning Sgt. Mark Smith about his investigation of Dennis Oland’s vehicle seized a week after the discovery of Richard Oland’s body. This was an extensive /meticulous search of this vehicle? Yes.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:02:35 PM
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Lacy is asking Smith about his examination of Dennis Oland's Volkswagen Golf City, which had been seized from his Rothesay home on July 14, 2011 - one week after his father's body was discovered in his uptown officeby Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:03:29 PM
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Court heard yesterday Smith spent about 14 hours inspecting and testing the car over a few days. Lacy asks if he even took out the seats. Lifted them, says Smith. Meticulous search? asks Lacy. Yes, agrees Smith. Well-documented with about 69 photos? Yes.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:05:16 PM
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You understood, as a result of reviewing the search warrant, officers wanted you to look for evidence that could link that vehicle to the crime, correct? asks Lacy. Correct, replies Smith. And in turn, link Dennis Oland to the crime, correct? Correct.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:07:23 PM
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There’s plenty of video showing Dennis Oland driving the car around and around the block of his father’s office the day of the murder during his three visits - including the third and final visit he neglected to tell police about during hours of interviews the next day.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:08:07 PM
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And unlike when you were examining the crime scene, you didn’t have people coming in and getting into the car, interfering with processing the car did you? asks Lacy. No, says Smith.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:09:01 PM
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Lacy suggests Smith spent more time examining the car than he did the crime scene. He agrees. Oland drove the VW&from his father's office when he visited him on July 6, 2011, the night he was killed. He's the last known person to see him alive. Body was discovered next morningby Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:12:34 PM
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Lacy is leading Smith through a series of photos he took during his examination of the car, as well as a sketch he drew and notes he took https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHngwkXQAATGIo.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:16:54 PM -
Police were convinced the killer would have left the murder scene with blood on them and believed they would find traces of that in Dennis Oland’s car if he was the killer since he drove off shortly after the third and final visit. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHn0iiUUAAabp_.jpg
by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:17:27 PM -
Oland’s car did not look like it had been cleaned in any way in the week following the murder but despite 14 to 16 hours of detailed investigation Smith turned up no useful evidence. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHoo8GVAAEfkIf.jpg
by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:21:13 PM -
“You spent more time searching the car than you did searching the crime scene if you totalled all the hours. Is that fair,” asks Lacy.
Yes, agrees Smithby Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:23:16 PM -
Notes list various parts of car interior Smith tested. Includes pedals. Significant possibility of finding transfer evidence if someone had blood on their footwear, due to grooves? asks Lacy. Smith agrees. Gas, brake and clutch in this car? Yes. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHo6u7WkAI7RgE.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHoig5WoAIeuqT.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:24:35 PM -
Notes list various parts of car interior Smith tested. Includes pedals. Significant possibility of finding transfer evidence if someone had blood on their footwear, due to grooves? asks Lacy. Smith agrees. Gas, brake and clutch in this car? Yes. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHo6u7WkAI7RgE.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHoig5WoAIeuqT.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:24:36 PM -
The trunk had a pile of stuff in it when police took possession of the car but none of that gave up any useful evidence either. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHprxeVYAIMegz.jpg
by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:25:30 PM -
Floor mats were dirty, car didn't appear to have been recently cleaned? asks Lacy. Correct, says Smith. Seats were fabric - greater chance of absorption? Yes. Can trap blood or DNA? Yes.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:27:15 PM
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Smith took 69 photos of the vehicle inside and out and Smith was so convinced some trace of the murder had to be there 4 of the first 13 pieces of evidence sent to the RCMP for laboratory analysis were swabs taken from the car’s interior. None were of significance.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:29:29 PM
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Lacy stressing visible dirt, garbage and debris in the car. No obvious signs of any clean-up. Smith used chemical reactants to verify. Found no sign of clean-up, court hears. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHqXwUVAAUHl9g.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHqXvYX4AAq_fA.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:32:09 PM -
Lacy stressing visible dirt, garbage and debris in the car. No obvious signs of any clean-up. Smith used chemical reactants to verify. Found no sign of clean-up, court hears. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHqXwUVAAUHl9g.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHqXvYX4AAq_fA.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:32:10 PM -
The absence of evidence in the car coupled with police being convinced the killer had to have been sprayed with blood at the murder makes the car an important element in Oland’s defence. Lacy sounds like he’s content to spend much of the day asking about what Smith didn’t find.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 2:35:32 PM
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Smith also tested numerous items found in the trunk for any forensic evidence, court hears. Lacy stressing the absence of any evidence found, despite exhaustive search. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHrY7cWoAAzfFB.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHrY73VsAAfavT.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:37:30 PM -
Smith also tested numerous items found in the trunk for any forensic evidence, court hears. Lacy stressing the absence of any evidence found, despite exhaustive search. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHrY7cWoAAzfFB.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxHrY73VsAAfavT.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:37:30 PM -
Lacy is about to move onto another area of questioning. Suggests this would be a good time for court to take its morning break.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 2:43:36 PM
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No blood on the seats, steering wheel, foot pedals, stick shift, door handles, head rests, floor mats. Nothing anywhere. The condition of the car suggests Oland is either innocent or took effective steps to protect himself and his clothes from blood spray during the murder.by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 3:03:02 PM
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Sgt. Mark Smith is sitting in the witness box, ready for the Dennis Oland retrial to resume. A couple more members of the public are here, as well as Oland's sister Jacqueline Walsh and his uncle, Derek Oland, the executive chairman of Moosehead Breweriesby Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 3:06:16 PM
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Justice Terrence Morrison is here. Court resumes. He says he got an email from the clerk's office re. the "Justice Law Courts Storm Line" people can call to find out if courthouse is closed due to weather - 658-5439by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 3:08:49 PM
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Defence lawyer Michael Lacy is asking Smith about the red fabric grocery bag found in the trunk of Dennis Oland's car. Displays photo Smith took of its contents, which included geneaology-related documents.by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 3:18:31 PM
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Lacy still taking Smith through his examination of Oland’s car and its contents. Now moving onto the material recovered from the hatchback trunk. No blood found here either. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxH2zCCV4AMB6J1.jpg
by Robert Jones via twitter 1/17/2019 3:22:52 PM -
Oland told police he visited his father at his office on July 6, 2011 to discuss geneaology - a shared interest. Security video from the restaurant across the street from the office showed Oland carrying a bag that night. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxH2ennWwAAzWqx.jpg
by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 3:23:56 PM -
William Adamson, husband of Richard Oland's secretary Maureen Adamson, who was waiting outside the office to pick up his wife that night, told police he saw a man carrying a red “grocery store tote bag" enter the buildingby Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon via twitter 1/17/2019 3:27:03 PM