SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A Saint John courtroom was packed Tuesday for the testimony of a woman who says she was having an extramarital affair with Richard Oland before his murder.
Diana Sedlacek told the Court of Queen's Bench that she was having a romantic relationship with the New Brunswick businessman for most of the eight years she had known him before his death.
Sedlacek said they would meet about three times a week in Saint John and had seen each other many times outside the city. Her husband only became aware of the affair when police visited him following Oland's death, she said.
Oland was found face down in a pool of blood in his Saint John office on July 7, 2011.
His son Dennis has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder.
Asked about her activities on July 6, 2011, Sedlacek said she woke up, got ready and then sent a text to Oland to say good morning.
She went to the gym and before she joined a class, she texted Oland to ask if he had the information on a trip they were planning to Portland, Maine. Oland called her during her spin class but the phone was on silent and she couldn't answer it.
She replied by text after the class and he texted her the possible times for their trip.
The Crown has presented a five-page document showing texts from her phone on July 6 and 7, 2011.
Sedlacek said she sent a number of texts the evening of July 6 in an effort to reach Oland and also called his cellphone.
"It immediately went to voicemail," she told the court.
Sedlacek said she sent a text asking why he had turned his phone off.
"Answer your damn phone," she texted. "I will call your house."
Her final text on July 6 was at 11:12 p.m., expressing that it was "pathetic" he wasn't replying, she said.
Sedlacek said she tried to call Oland on the morning of July 7 but there was again no answer.
She saw Oland's car in his parking spot as she was on her way to a hair appointment, and sent him a text at 9:37 a.m. asking, "What the hell is going on with you?"
Crown Prosecutor P.J. Veniot asked Sedlacek if she was expecting a call back from Richard Oland.
"Absolutely," she replied.
After she left her hair appointment, Sedlacek said she saw police in front of Oland's office and told a police officer she had an appointment with Oland. She was told no one was allowed inside.
She said she drove to her real estate office and sent emails to Oland's secretary and his business associate, but got no reply.
Sedlacek drove back to Oland's office and saw his car being towed away, she said.
"I knew something horrible had happened," she said. "I didn't know what."
Previous witnesses have said that members of the Oland family were aware of the extramarital affair.
Sheriffs brought in extra chairs to accommodate the number of people in the courtroom.
