Constable Stephen Davidson of the Saint John police, who took over as the lead investigator in the Richard Oland case, testifying on day nine of the second-degree murder trial of Richard’s son, Dennis Oland.
Constable Davidson telling the court he arrived on the scene at 52 Canterbury Street on July 7, 2011 — the day Richard Oland’s body was discovered in his office — at about 9:30am. He had officially started his position with the Major Crime Unit of the Saint John police three days before.
Davidson speaking about the door in the foyer area that leads to the alleyway saying it had a deadbolt on it and he unlocked it and looked outside. He can’t recall if he went outside into the alleyway that day or two days later. The defence has suggested that this would be the preferred exit route for the killer.
He went out to Almon Lane in Rothesay to notify Richard Oland’s family saying that there were a number of family members present including Dennis Oland. He says the family was asked to come to the police station to provide interviews.
He interviewed Richard Oland’s daughter, Jacqueline Walsh, at 3:47pm and finished up at 5:07pm. He was then assigned to conduct an interview with Dennis Oland.
Davidson will be recalled to give more testimony and the defence is holding off on cross-examining him until that testimony is finished.
CHSJ Reporter Laura Lyall is covering the trial and is tweeting from the courtroom to her account along with the CHSJ News and Wave News Twitter accounts.
