Several potential leads not pursued after Oland murder, investigator admits
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Several potential leads that were not pursued by police investigating Richard Oland’s murder have been raised by the defence at Dennis Oland’s second-degree murder trial.
Defence lawyer Alan Gold cross-examined Const. Stephen Davidson, lead investigator of the murder for the Saint John police, on Thursday and asked him why police did not do more to question possible witnesses and look into curious occurrences.
One of those odd developments was the discovery a few weeks after the July 6, 2011, murder of multi-millionaire Richard Oland of a bunch of sticky notes with names written on them of Oland family members, past and present. The notes were found on the ground by a passer-by in west Saint John, far from the crime scene, and turned over to police.
Names scribbled on the notes included Dick, Derek, Philip and Susan, the word “alcoholic” and “1800s.” Susannah Oland, who lived in the 19th century, was the creator of the original beer recipe that formed the basis of the Oland family’s Moosehead Brewery.