The Oland Murder
A four-part series on the murder of millionaire Richard Oland and the retrial of his son Dennis
It was a bloodbath. On July 6, 2011, multimillionaire Richard Oland suffered a gruesome 45 blows to his head, neck and hands. A crime like this would have been big news almost anywhere, but in New Brunswick, it was huge.
His son Dennis soon became the prime suspect. He was the last known person to see his father alive, he was deeply in debt, and blood and his father's DNA were found on his clothing. After years of widespread gossip, allegations of police misconduct and pretrial publicity, Dennis was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in December 2015. But he has always maintained his innocence, and in October 2016, a retrial was ordered.
Since his release, our camera crew had intimate and exclusive access to the accused, his family, the defence team and investigators to document the road to retrial.
The Oland Murder, a new four-part series debuting on CBC on March 4 at 9 pm, follows unexplored leads and digs into new evidence in a search for the truth, capturing every moment until the surprising outcome at the trial's end.
Episode 1: Maybe He's Watching
In one of Canada's most notorious maximum-security prisons, Dennis Oland is serving a life sentence for the bludgeoning death of his father, Richard Oland. He insists he didn't do it.
Five years after his father's body was found, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal orders a retrial. As Dennis's high-powered legal team begins to mount his defence, they uncover evidence suggesting the possibility of police misconduct.
Episode 2: Straight Line to Guilty
Strategizing for his retrial, Dennis's lawyers fight to have his police interrogation tape tossed from evidence. With a guilty verdict in the first trial and almost a decade of negative publicity to contend with, the team also requests a judge-alone trial to avoid facing another local jury.
As Dennis walks us through his movements on the day of the murder, the defence team's private investigators uncover never-before-seen evidence that suggests the police should have investigated other potential suspects.
Episode 3: Dog in the Fight
Cellphone evidence raises questions about the Crown's theory of the crime, and materials found on Richard Oland's computer suggest he may have had some unfinished personal business.
The defence team loses a veteran and gains a new legal mind as both applications to the court are denied — Dennis's police statement will stay in evidence and he will face a jury in the second trial. It's a devastating blow to the defence.
But after 5,000 people are summonsed and a jury of 14, plus two alternates, is selected, a shocking case of alleged police misconduct changes everything.
Episode 4: Reasonable Doubt
After a mistrial is declared and the jury is dismissed, the new trial begins with Justice Terrence Morrison adjudicating alone. Police officers are called to the stand to recount their movements in the crime scene, raising concerns about the forensic evidence gathered there.
A witness recounts seeing a mysterious man leaving Richard Oland's office building the night of the murder. It's revealed that Richard did not touch his computer after Dennis left his office, and a toxicology report raises the possibility that Richard went out for a drink before he was murdered. When the verdict is finally given, will justice be served?