‘Most painful torture’ among accused triple-murderer Douglas Garland’s Google searches

WARNING: This story contains graphic content that some readers might find disturbing. Discretion is advised.

Disturbing Internet searches recovered from the hard drive belonging to accused triple-murderer Douglas Garland were detailed in court Tuesday.

Calgary Police Const. Doug Kraan, an expert in digital forensic examinations, continued his testimony on the 11th day of the trial.

READ MORE: Douglas Garland triple-murder trial – medical examiner says victims ‘may still have been alive’

Court was shown a written presentation that included a list of Internet searches, such as “how much does it take to cause a concussion?”, “force needed for concussion” and “best butcher knives.”

Garland, 57, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of five-year-old Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathy Liknes.

The trio was last seen June 29, 2014 after an estate sale in their southwest Calgary home.

READ MORE: Timeline – Missing Calgary family Nathan O’Brien, Alvin and Kathryn Liknes

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Kraan went through information found on a hard drive found hidden in the rafters of the Garland home.

A history of Google searches showed an obsession for for Alvin and Kathryn Liknes, with searches dating back to March of 2014. They included searches for their photos, address, phone number and Google mapping of their home.

There was also a search for “most painful torture” and “cryomation promession.”

Kraan also detailed eBay checks for items including “amputation knife, surgical dissecting instruments, a post mortem surgical autopsy set, gynecology instruments and scalpels.”

Watch below: Computer evidence was presented by the Crown Monday at the Douglas Garland murder trial on Jan. 30. Nancy Hixt has the details.

1:18 Tech crimes experts testify in triple-murder trial of Douglas Garland

On Monday, court heard the drive had multiple folders and subfolders containing everything from documents on fingerprinting and DNA to hypnosis and ADHD.

There was a folder created on “locksmithing” that included a “programming/operating guide” to the Schlage BE-365 lock – the same lock found on the Liknes home.

Kraan testified it was his opinion Garland was the user of the computer. However, under cross examination, he admitted anyone could have accessed the computer as it wasn’t password protected.

Watch below: Global’s ongoing coverage of Douglas Garland’s murder trial

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Court heard several purchases at Princess Auto were tracked to Garland in testimony on Tuesday.

The jury was shown CCTV surveillance video from the northeast Calgary store, believed to be Garland shopping there in May 2014.

Det. Colin Harper said Princess Auto was able to track receipts and that Garland was part of a customer loyalty program.

The economic crimes investigator compared items listed on the receipts with photos of the items on the company’s website. Those items included a hacksaw (also referred to as a meat saw) and meat hooks.

Harper was handed exhibits seized from the Garland farm, and said they appeared to be the items purchased at Princess Auto.

The Crown has told the jury DNA of all three victims was found on those items–Alvin and Nathan on the saw, Kathy on the meat hooks.

The Crown’s theory is Garland violently took the three victims from the Liknes home, then killed and dismembered them and destroyed their bodies.