A challenging cross-examination by Dennis Oland’s defence of forensic officer Sgt. Mark Smith on what he didn’t do on July 7th 2011.
Michael Lacy pointed out that Smith missed a bloody footprint impression near the body and failed to thoroughly examine the stairway and vestibule of 52 Canterbury Street.
Lacy noted that Smith spent 14 hours going over Dennis Oland’s car with various technologies but didn’t use those same methods in the crime scene.
Lacy: “There are many things that you failed to do that you should have done. Correct?”
Smith: “Yes.”— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) January 16, 2019
He also didn’t wear any protective clothing in his first visit to 52 Canterbury Street despite being informed when he arrived that it was a suspicious death.
In it, the Crown says “it’s ‘possible’ they may have been put there by an unidentified person who may have been up in the deceased office after Dennis Oland left (assuming Richard Oland was alive at that time).”
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) January 16, 2019
The court is shown an email sent to the Crown in the first trial referring to a footprint in blood.
The email states “it’s possible they may have been put there by an unidentified person who may have been up in the deceased’s office after Dennis Oland left assuming Richard Oland was alive at that time.”
Lacy: “did you explain the importance of not interfering”
Smith: “yes”
Lacy: “Could ou have done more to protect the scene?”
Smith: “Yes.”— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) January 16, 2019
Smith acknowledges he missed something very important.
Photo: Sgt. Mark Smith of the Saint John Police Force is pictured outside the Saint John Law Courts on Oct. 8, 2015 (File photo/Acadia News)
