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Douglas Garland rushed to hospital after jailhouse beating: sources

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Douglas Garland rushed to hospital after jailhouse beating: sources
WATCH ABOVE: Douglas Garland was rushed to hospital Friday night after being beaten by fellow inmates at the Calgary Remand Centre, sources confirm to Global News – Feb 18, 2017

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

Convicted triple murderer Douglas Garland was rushed to hospital in Calgary Friday night after being beaten by fellow inmates at the Calgary Remand Centre, sources confirm to Global News.

READ MORE: Douglas Garland guilty of 3 counts of first-degree murder in deaths of Nathan O’Brien and grandparents

Garland had received an automatic life sentence after a jury convicted him Thursday of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathy Liknes.

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

Justice David Gates found Garland captured, restrained, tortured, killed, dismembered and burned the bodies of Nathan, Alvin and Kathy.

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Gates then ruled in favour of consecutive periods of parole ineligibility for the maximum of 75 years Friday afternoon.

READ MORE: Douglas Garland sentenced to life, no parole for 75 years 

Global News has confirmed Garland was taken by ambulance to the Foothills Hospital just before 11 p.m. Friday night with minor injuries.

Sources say the 57-year-old was in a common area of the provincial jail when he was attacked from behind by four inmates. He received multiple blows to the head and midsection.

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Garland remained in hospital Saturday under observation and is receiving further tests.

Sources confirm the incident was captured on CCTV at the Remand Centre.

Defence lawyer Kim Ross was surprised to hear of the attack.

“I understand he’s not going to win any popularity contests but he is in the custody of the system and they have a mandate to protect him,” Ross told Global News.

Ross confirmed prior to the trial, Garland had been segregated in a facility outside of the city. He was moved to the Calgary Remand Centre for the trial.

“My understanding is he was in a unit where his safety was not a concern, but obviously it is,” Ross said.

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He added police are investigating.

“I’m hoping this isn’t a case where this attack was ‘allowed’ to happen.”

“He’s been in custody for two and a half years and there hasn’t been a problem,” Ross said. “Now, all of a sudden, he gets convicted and sentenced and he has one of these incidents.”

Ross said he will be going to see his client this weekend.

Defence confirmed Garland will be seen early next week to discuss placement in a federal institution. He has been told he will end up in the Edmonton Max. However, that could be delayed by a few weeks.

Ross said he may be held at the Calgary Remand Centre for an additional two to four weeks; the time period he’s allowed to file an appeal.

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“Late the evening of February 17, a male inmate at the Calgary Remand Centre was assaulted by several inmates,” Dan Laville, spokesperson for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, said in a statement to Global News.

“He was treated at the centre and then transported to hospital in non-life threatening condition, where he remains. Local police were called and are investigating. An internal investigation will also be completed.”

Calgary paramedics responded at about 10:20 p.m. Friday to reports a man in his late 50s had been assaulted. The man was taken to hospital in stable, non-life-threatening condition with “soft tissue injuries.”

The incident remains under investigation.

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