Trial focuses on killer’s escape

• The possible escape route of the killer or killers of New Brunswick businessman Richard Oland was the focus of testimony Friday at a murder trial in Saint John.

The defence focused on a rear exit from the second floor of the office building where Oland’s battered body was discovered on July 7, 2011.

Oland’s son Dennis has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in his father’s death.

On Friday morning, Const. Ben MacLeod of the Saint John police department told the court that he guarded the crime scene at 52 Canterbury St. during the evening of July 7, 2011, and the early morning hours of July 8.

He says the exit door to the alleyway behind the building was open the entire time.

Previously, other officers had testified that the door had been closed earlier in the day and they hadn’t seen anyone examine it.

Under cross examination by defence lawyer Gary Miller, MacLeod said he didn’t go into the alleyway but did stand in the doorway during the night because it was hot.

“As you were standing in that doorway did it occur to you the perpetrator of this dastardly deed could have left that way?,” Miller asked.

MacLeod said he wasn’t aware, at the time, of all the details of the crime and was simply securing the scene, but “it dawned on me that it was a possibility.”

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Alan Gold showed pictures of the alleyway to Const. Mike Horgan.

He asked Horgan about searching various parts of the alley, including steps that exit the second floor of 52 Canterbury St. On each question, Horgan responded with “I searched the back alley.”

At one point in the questioning, Horgan said he couldn’t identify some of the photos as showing that specific alley.

The Crown has told the jury that Richard Oland was killed in a violent outburst that resulted in 40 blows to his head and neck.

The trial resumes Monday.