SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A judge has released Dennis Oland's full five-hour interview at Saint John Police headquarters hours after his father's body was discovered.
The video shows skeptical police officers repeatedly accusing Oland of murder, but receiving little more than silence in return.
The first two-and-a-half hours of the interview were released after they were shown at trial, but the CBC applied to the court to have the entire interview made public, and Justice John Walsh agreed on Thursday.
During the first half of the lengthy interview with police on the evening of July 7, 2011 — just hours after the bludgeoned body of Richard Oland, 69, was found in his Saint John office — Dennis Oland said his father was known as a guy who could be really difficult to get along with.
Oland spoke openly about how his father was impatient, and having an affair.
But Oland also praised his father for financing the younger Oland's very expensive divorce from his first wife.
Oland described his movements on the previous day, including visits to his father's office to discuss family genealogy. He was uncertain about the routes he took and exactly where he parked each time.
He also said he had been wearing a navy blazer, while other people told police that Oland had been wearing a brown sports coat.
Oland denied any involvement in his father's death.
During the newly released portion of the videotape, Const. Stephen Davidson returns to the small interview room and tells Oland that there have been inconsistencies in his story, and reads Oland his rights.
"Dennis, given our conversation there's no doubt in my mind that you did it," Davidson said.
"Did what?" Oland replied.
"You had an involvement in this death and I want to know why. I want to know the reasons why," Davidson asked.
Oland was given an opportunity to speak with lawyer Bill Teed by phone, and afterwards refuses to talk with police without his lawyer present.
Davidson repeatedly asks if the murder was planned or happened spontaneously.
Oland sits with his legs cross and looking down, refusing to speak.
Davidson leaves he room at roughly 9 p.m. — three hours into the interview — and is replaced by another investigator, Keith Copeland.
Copeland tells Oland he has been watching the interview and sees many inconsistencies in his story.
"The biggest problem I see facing you at this point is that you've told a story that is so full of holes and you haven't thought it through. And why haven't you ... because this wasn't planned. You didn't expect this to happen. You may have fantasized or thought one day it would be nice to get even with the old man. The dirty pig, having an affair in front of my family. Disrespecting my mother, disrespecting my whole family," Copeland said.
He repeatedly suggested that Oland may have been upset over his father's control of money and the affair his father was having.
"You didn't plan this Dennis. He brought this on. Pushed you, pushed you, pushed you, squeezed you, rubbed your face in the fact that he controls it all. Disrespected you. Disrespected your mother," Copeland said.
Oland continues to sit with his head down, silent, but occasionally yawning.
"There's absolutely no doubt about what happened and who did it. The question is why Dennis? Only you at this point in time can provide the why," Copeland said.
Copeland continues to press for answers, but Oland repeats he is following the advice of his lawyer to not talk.
Finally at about 11 p.m. Copeland said "This is your opportunity Dennis. Will you take advantage of that opportunity and tell me what happened? It's a yes or no."
"No," Oland replies
"Then we're done," Copeland said and the two men leave the room, ending the interview.
In December, a jury found Oland guilty of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.
His lawyers are seeking appeal of the conviction and will apply for bail Friday to have Oland released pending the appeal.
