On July 7, 2011, Richard Oland, a 69-year-old Canadian businessman and former vice-president for Moosehead Brewery, was bludgeoned to death in his office on Canterbury Street in Saint John, New Brunswick. His son, Dennis Oland, came under suspicion for the killing and was charged with second-degree murder. Dennis' first trial, the longest and most expensive trial in the history of Saint John, ended with his conviction on December 19, 2015. Throughout the high-profile court case, intimate details about the private lives of the entire Oland family were revealed. Dennis was sentenced to life in prison, with a possibility of parole in ten years, as recommended by the jury. His lawyers immediately began the appeals process, seeking the appellate judges to either overturn the guilty verdict, order a new trial, or enter a full acquittal. The appeal was successful, and Dennis' conviction was overturned on October 24, 2016. On July 19, 2019, he was found not guilty on retrial.
Background Richard Henry "Dick" Oland (1941 – July 7, 2011) was the second-born son to Philip Oland, chairman and CEO of Moosehead Breweries, and Mary Oland. Richard and his older brother Derek were born and reared in Rothesay, New Brunswick, a suburb of Saint John. Several families living in Rothesay, such as the Olands, the Irvings, and the Crosbys are considered "old money", claiming some of Canada's highest incomes per capita. Richard attended Rothesay Collegiate School, Regiopolis College, and the University of New Brunswick, obtaining a certificate of brewing technology. He wed Constance "Connie" Connell in 1965, and fathered three children: Elizabeth, Jacqueline, and Dennis. Richard was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome by one of his friends, a clinical psychologist. By 1980, Richard, then a vice-president of Moosehead Breweries, vied with Derek for leadership of the company in a public and legal feud. Their father decided to select Derek to succeed him, resulting in Richard leaving the company in 1981. Starting from scratch, Richard found a niche in the Saint John business community with his development of three major enterprises: Kinghurst Estates Limited, Brookville Transport Limited, and the investment firm Far End Corporation. Richard became an accomplished businessman, amassing many awards and a fortune of nearly C$37 million. He was also in charge of organizing the 1985 Canada Summer Games, serving as the Saint John 1985 Canada Summer Games Society president. Richard made Far End Corporation's premises his primary office space. Located at 52 Canterbury Street in the historic Uptown district of Saint John, the second-floor office space was rented from building owner John Ainsworth. Ainsworth operated his own business, Printing Plus, from the first floor of the building, and rented out the third floor to local bands to practice after office hours ended for the day.
Oland family relationship Richard was married to Constance "Connie" Oland for 46 years, though he also been in an eight-year relationship with his mistress, Diana Sedlacek. The Oland family has been characterized as having dysfunctional elements, with Constance telling authorities that Richard "did not get along with his brother, Derek Oland". Constance had also stated that Richard had "a very strong and controlling personality". An affidavit described that Richard "was not physically abusive but was emotionally and verbally abusive". Sedlacek told police that Richard did not have much respect for Dennis Oland, his only son, and "thought he was lazy". Constance similarly told investigators that Dennis frequently sought his father's respect, though "he had never been able to live up to his standards".
Murder Richard Oland was last seen alive in his office on July 6, 2011, where his son, Dennis, told police that he left at around 6:30 p.m. after around an hour of visiting the office. That same day, Oland was bludgeoned to death in his office. The last keystroke on his computer was recorded at 5:39 p.m., and Oland's iPhone, which had been the only object missing from the crime scene, last communicated at 6:44 p.m. through receiving a text message from Sedlacek.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
