Second-degree murder trial of Dennis Oland opens in New Brunswick

The court is expected to hear and see some very graphic evidence including those of the crime scene at Oland’s uptown Saint John office.

Oland is charged with second degree murder in the death of his father.

He told the court one juror selected last week could not continue to serve, and that person has been replaced by one of the alternates. He said Dennis Oland owed his father a significant amount of money and was having financial difficulties.

Adamson said she had known Richard Oland for about 30 years.

“He did not deserve to die in such a gruesome manner”, said Veniot.

Adamson said the well-known New Brunswick businessman was chatting about family history with his son the last time she saw him alive.

Although he kept close tabs on his stock holdings, she said Richard Oland did not inquire frequently about Dennis’ monthly payments.

The Oland family operates Moosehead Breweries – the oldest independently owned brewery in Canada – although Richard Oland left Moosehead in 1981. The two men had a shared interest in genealogy and were discussing the family tree, she said.

By July 6, 2011, Veniot said Dennis Oland had maxed out a $163,000 line of credit and secured an advance from his employer in June 2011.

Forensic tests found four areas on the jacket with blood, each area containing “a DNA profile that matched Richard Oland’s”.

Perhaps the least surprising thing the prosecutor had to say was that Dick Oland also suffered six defensive injuries to his hands: He’d fought for his life, just as those who knew him – and his brother, Derek, wife, daughter and daughter-inlaw and others were all in court – surely would have predicted.