SAINT JOHN – The forensic portion of the investigation into the murder of well known businessman Richard Oland is once again the focus of the Crown in this high profile Saint John trial.
47 year old Dennis Oland of Rothesay is accused of second degree murder in the grisly July 2011 slaying of his father in his Uptown Saint John office
Sergeant Mark Smith, the Chief Forensics Officer with the Saint John Police Department was on the stand again Tuesday. He has already told the court that he alone was responsible for 564 police exhibits having to do with this case.
The Crown continued to question Smith for a fourth straight day as it continues to lay the foundation of it’s case.
Today Smith went over a sketch he made of Richard Oland’s office and the estimates he made of distances from the main pool of blood to various parts of the office. He also told the court of a cursory exam he performed of the second and third floor of the building including a second floor bathroom. That’s where he seized a paper towel from a garbage can that tested positive for blood.
Smith told the court other officers had used that bathroom for two days prior to his examination.
When he was asked by the Crown if that concerned him he replied “Yes it did”.
READ MORE: Testimony focuses on building’s rear exit at Oland trial Friday
The trial also heard of Smith meeting and working with an RCMP blood spatter expert from Halifax. The crime scene was again processed and the area was sprayed for additional blood traces which did appear including on the sink of a second floor bathroom.
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Smith said his involvement also included a search of Dennis Oland’s car which was seized from his Rothesay home. The inside of the Volkswagen Golf was swabbed for blood in 11 areas.
Smith said some weak positives came back, along with very weak and none at all.
An “Our Compliments” reusable grocery bag was seized from the trunk and would be later entered as evidence.
The trial again went back to the much talked about back door from the 2nd floor of 52 Canterbury street. Smith said a photo of that door was planned to be taken in July of 2011 but was overlooked and never completed.
The Crown completed its direction examination of Smith with the defense beginning its cross-examination late in the afternoon.
Sergeant Smith will be back on the stand Wednesday
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