SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The Crown attorney has told the jury at Dennis Oland's murder trial that Oland's father, Richard, died after suffering 40 blows to the head and neck.
Dennis Oland has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of his father, who was found dead in his office in Saint John, N.B., in July 2011.
The trial got underway at the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John today with Justice John Walsh telling the jury to keep an open mind.
"It is Crown counsel's job to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.
Crown counsel P.J. Veniot told the jury during his opening statement that the 69-year-old victim suffered six defensive wounds to his hands during the fatal beating. Veniot said Richard Oland's secretary, who will be the first witness to testify, discovered Oland's body on July 7, 2011, face down in a pool of blood.
"The manner and cause of death point to an act committed by a perpetrator who, in a rage, intended to kill Richard Oland but not in a simple senseless act of a strike or two, or three to the head," said Veniot.
"Richard Oland suffered no less than 40 blows. The perpetrator for whatever reason or reasons continued way beyond what was required to cause Richard Oland's death."
Veniot outlined the relationship between son and father, saying it was more like that of a client and banker.
The prosecutor said Richard Oland was wealthy and worth more than $30 million, but his son was in dire financial straits. Veniot told the jury the elder Oland had bankrolled Dennis to help him keep his home after a costly divorce with his first wife.
Richard gave Dennis a $500,000 loan and Dennis was to make interest-only payments of $1,667 per month to his father. Dennis was also paying $4,233 per month in child support payments.
By July 6, 2011 - the day Veniot said Dennis visited his father's office - Dennis had maxed out a $163,000 line of credit and had secured an advance from his employer in June 2011.
"The accused was a man living beyond his financial means," Veniot said.
Veniot said that Dennis had not made his May or June payments to his father and a cheque he wrote for the first of those payments was declined on June 5, 2011 for insufficient funds.
Veniot said no weapon has ever been found, and the only thing missing from Oland's office was his iPhone.
The trial is scheduled to last 65 days.
Several family members were in court for the opening of the trial, including Dennis' wife Lisa, his sister Lisa, his mother Constance and uncle Derek Oland.
The Oland family operates Moosehead Breweries — the oldest independently owned brewery in Canada — although Richard Oland left Moosehead in 1981.
