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Truth and Honour: The Death of Richard Oland and the Trial of Dennis Oland
Truth and Honour explores the 2011 murder of Saint John businessman Richard Oland, of the prominent family that owns Moosehead Breweries, the ensuing police investigation and the arrest, trial, and conviction of the victim's son, Dennis Oland, for second-degree murder.
Oland's trial would be the most publicized in New Brunswick history. What the trial judge called "a family tragedy of Shakespearian proportions," this real-life murder mystery included adultery, family dysfunction, largely circumstantial evidence, allegations of police incompetence, a high-powered legal defense, and a verdict that shocked the community.
Today, the Oland family maintains Dennis Oland's innocence. Author Greg Marquis, a professor of Canadian history at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, leads readers through the case, from the discovery of the crime to the conviction and sentencing of the defendant.
Offering multiple perspectives, Truth and Honour explores this question: was Dennis Oland responsible for the death of his father?
Oland's trial would be the most publicized in New Brunswick history. What the trial judge called "a family tragedy of Shakespearian proportions," this real-life murder mystery included adultery, family dysfunction, largely circumstantial evidence, allegations of police incompetence, a high-powered legal defense, and a verdict that shocked the community.
Today, the Oland family maintains Dennis Oland's innocence. Author Greg Marquis, a professor of Canadian history at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, leads readers through the case, from the discovery of the crime to the conviction and sentencing of the defendant.
Offering multiple perspectives, Truth and Honour explores this question: was Dennis Oland responsible for the death of his father?
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 19, 2016
I thought this book was an exceptionally fair and well-researched take on a really bizarre murder. I am from New Brunswick originally and therefore was extremely interested in both the subject and its effect on grey Saint John (an in joke for those who grew up there in the 60's). It haunts me still. The 0nly criticism I have of this work is that it was solely factual, if that makes any sense, so that at times it seemed as though it were just another historical tome on some long-dead tragic figure. After all Dennis Oland is alive, as we speak. The whole book may have been more interesting written as creative nonfiction rather than as a historical essay. In his attempt to be fair Marquis often describes a tale devoid of dramatic tension and the story comes off a bit dry. After all this is a case that has shades of Oedipus about it, not to mention Lizzy Borden. And Shakespeare. Instead of Lear driven mad by his daughters' betrayal we have a prince maddened by his father's selfish contempt. Or was it just the money that allegedly drove Dennis Oland to bludgeon his father to death? Like many of the true mysteries of life we may never know. I loved the bit about Oland rocking to Bob Seger at Harbour Station a year or so after his father's death . As someone remarked this was one of the few homicides in which the alleged murderer garnered more sympathy than the victim. And perhaps that is the key to the whole mystery.
September 26, 2016
This trial captivated the Maritimes. A member of a well-established, very wealthy and influential family is killed and the lead suspect is another member of that family. We love to watch the mighty fall but the case divided a lot of people. Opinions as to Dennis' guilt are mixed and Marquis does a great job of crafting the time line of the crime. More thoughtful than your average true-crime book.
September 25, 2016
Truth & Honour is highly readable, engrossing and above all, informative. It should prove to be of great interest to true crime enthusiasts, historians and students of criminology and justice systems.
My full review is here: http://wp.me/p60sTD-O5
My full review is here: http://wp.me/p60sTD-O5
October 15, 2017
I just finished reading Truth & Honour which examines the investigation into the the murder of Saint John, New Brunswick businessman Richard Oland, (of the Moosehead Brewing Company) in 2011, the arrest of his son Dennis two years later and the subsequent trail.
The book is very thorough, although it could be a very dry read in places, which is due to the explanations of some of what seems to be minor facts. It was interesting to note how different our court system is compared to the American one and how much more complicated justice systems are in real life.
I have been interested in this case since I first heard that it happened. A wealthy man murdered with an Ax or drywall hammer in his office in early evening with no obvious evidence pointing to the killer right away, has all the makings of a good fiction, except it all really occurred.
To me, the fact that Richard Oland was struck repeatedly with the hammer or Ax over forty times tells me this is a crime of passion, that the killer had to be somebody very close to Richard. After reading this book, I am now convinced that Dennis did indeed commit the crime.
One note the author continually makes, which is kind of sad, is that after the murder the family kept speaking of poor Dennis not being able to see his family at Christmas or holidays and poor Dennis having to spend time in jail, where Richard, the victim, seems hardly ever thought of.
If you like true crime stories, or stories of murder, this book is for you. Draw your own conclusions as to whether he did it or not.
The book is very thorough, although it could be a very dry read in places, which is due to the explanations of some of what seems to be minor facts. It was interesting to note how different our court system is compared to the American one and how much more complicated justice systems are in real life.
I have been interested in this case since I first heard that it happened. A wealthy man murdered with an Ax or drywall hammer in his office in early evening with no obvious evidence pointing to the killer right away, has all the makings of a good fiction, except it all really occurred.
To me, the fact that Richard Oland was struck repeatedly with the hammer or Ax over forty times tells me this is a crime of passion, that the killer had to be somebody very close to Richard. After reading this book, I am now convinced that Dennis did indeed commit the crime.
One note the author continually makes, which is kind of sad, is that after the murder the family kept speaking of poor Dennis not being able to see his family at Christmas or holidays and poor Dennis having to spend time in jail, where Richard, the victim, seems hardly ever thought of.
If you like true crime stories, or stories of murder, this book is for you. Draw your own conclusions as to whether he did it or not.
September 1, 2017
This book details the murder, trial and conviction of Dennis Oland for the death of his father Richard Oland in July of 2011. The murder of this prominent businessman from the well-known and wealthy family who owned Moosehead Breweries, resulted in one of the longest most watched trials in Canada. It captivated the city, the province and the country and revealed many long kept secrets including adultery, a distant and emotional abusive father/son relationship, mismanaged finances and looming debt. A high profile team of lawyers led by Alan Gold and funded by Dennis’s Uncle Derek, head of the family’s global empire, rigorously questioned the circumstantial evidence presented at trial, exposed police incompetence and laid out a defense based on the legal principle of burden of doubt. Oland’s entire family supported his innocence and they, along with many in the small community of Saint John New Brunswick, were convinced he would be acquitted of the crime. But despite the fact there was little physical evidence linking Dennis to his father's death, the jury convicted him of second degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison with ten years to be served before he would be eligible for parole. The verdict shocked Dennis, his family, the town and the media that had been following the trial for many months.
Marquis’ methodical, competent account leads readers from the time the murder was committed, to the investigation, preliminary hearing, trial and final sentencing. It leaves the story unfinished as the appeal process was in progress, winding its way through the judicial system at the time the book was published. Those looking for salacious material or a “smoking gun” in this account will be disappointed. Instead Marquis gives the reader an educated observer’s account of the evidence presented in court, thoughtful questions about that evidence and an explanation of the legal questions not always easily understood by the common reader. It is all presented in the context of the small, economically disadvantaged, largely blue collar town of Saint John, where those with money hold a disproportional amount of political, social and economic power. The history of the brewing family which had remained free of the wrenching financial and power struggles that had gripped two other prominent Atlantic Maritime families, the Irvings and the McCains, was suddenly in the spotlight.
The media experienced difficulty following the events, frustrated by business and political leaders who refused to be interviewed, the scarcity of information released by the police and the dogged silence of the Oland family. That, along with the long delay between the time the murder was committed and Dennis Oland was charged, led many to speculate that the Crown believed Dennis had murdered his father but did not have the evidence to prove it.
Although many are familiar with the trial and followed it with a morbid fascination in the media, this book gives the reader a more complete and impartial account of the case, unencumbered by the use of sensational headlines often used to attract readers' attention. It is written by Greg Marquis, a well-respected scholar and professor of Canadian history at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, who specializes in the history of crime and policing. He provides readers an account of the investigation, the evidence presented at the preliminary inquiry in 2014 and the trial in 2015 with the available facts placed in a logical sequence. He explains the many delays and explores questions about the proceedings, all necessary for a complete understanding of the case. Marquis reminds readers he did not have access to full disclosure to write this account and it is based on the information presented in court. He did not see reports of the police investigation, police files or court records, but he did attend the trial every day and it is from that perspective he outlines the case.
Richard Oland was sixty-nine years old when he was bludgeoned to death in his downtown Saint John office on July 6, 2011. The brutal attack, consisting of forty-five blows to his head, delivered out of proportion to what was needed to kill him, was intense, violent and excessive, motivated by rage or revenge. He died within minutes. His son, 44 years old at the time, was the only serious suspect from the day the police began their investigation since he was the last known person to see his father alive. The Crown’s prosecution was based on their belief that Dennis’s financial problems and his father’s refusal to once again help him out, caused him to snap, lose control and attack him in a fit of anger. Dennis was not arrested until November of 2013 and not convicted of the crime until the fall of 2015.
The trial revealed information that had long been kept secret by the family. Richard, considered to be an astute businessman, actually inherited most of his wealth from his father. He had an abrasive personality, an aggressive business style and his share of enemies in the work world. His family life had long been in disarray. He had been married to his wife Connie for over forty years but that relationship was estranged and he was often away from home for weeks at a time. He was also involved with a mistress, a relationship known to both his wife and family.
In preliminary interviews, Richard’s family portrayed him as a narcissistic bully who was volatile and often verbally and emotionally abusive. They described him as overbearing and stingy with his money, especially when his family was concerned. His wife Constance said that Dennis, the only son of Richard’s three children, bore most of the abuse and had suffered the most, but she could never see him hurting his father. Outwardly Dennis appeared to both friends and family as a mild mannered family man and a good father, an unlikely candidate to commit murder. They remained steadfast in the belief that he was not his father’s killer.
Dennis and his wife Lisa were in sore financial difficulty and he was not performing well at Woody Gundy where he had approached his employer for a salary advance. Neither his family nor his friends were aware he was in such poor financial straits. He owed over $700,000 and had a negative cash flow at the bank, as automatic deductions for alimony and child support for his first wife regularly drained more money from his account each month than was being deposited. Despite clearly struggling to earn a middle class living and deeply in debt, Dennis did not change his behavior or alter his life style, seemingly oblivious to his dire predicament.
As Marquis’ narrative leads readers through the case, he poses one question to the reader: Was Dennis Oland responsible for the death of his father? Marquis does not answer that question himself. That was never his goal. Instead he asks the reader to draw their own conclusions from the evidence and decide whether they believe Dennis Oland is guilty. Marquis poses three possibilities: first that Oland is an innocent victim of police tunnel vision, a poorly planned and executed defense, class resentment or just plain bad luck; second that he is guilty and the police investigation, though not perfect was adequate and the Crown met the necessary burden of proof and finally, that Dennis probably did kill his father but the evidence is thin and he should be acquitted based on the principle of reasonable doubt.
Marquis reveals all the gaping holes in the investigation. They included the fact that the murder scene was never properly secured; the police did not always wear gloves when handling evidence; that long delays before search warrants were issued increased the possibility someone tampered with evidence and the scanty autopsy report which lacked an opinion on the type of weapon used or an estimate of the time of death. And there was that crucial piece of evidence about the jacket. When first questioned, Dennis said he had worn a navy blue jacket on the day his father was killed, but on the video showing him entering his father’s office that day, he was wearing a brown sports jacket, the jacket later proved to contain small amounts of Richard’s blood and DNA. And there was also that mysterious ping that came from Richard’s missing cell phone that could never be thoroughly explained, a ping which might have helped to place Dennis’s location at the time of the murder.
It is clear the Saint John Police Department, plagued by past scandal and unaccustomed to handling such a high profile murder case, had neither the experience nor the expertise to carry out a proper and thorough investigation. The number of police missteps was incredible and the defense was quick to pounce on them. With little physical evidence to connect Dennis to the murder, the case rested largely on circumstantial evidence. Marquis offers both the strength and the weaknesses of that evidence, leading readers to question its validity. He draws attention to the fact a murder weapon was never found (although a dry wall hammer was suspected) and as succinctly pointed out by the defense, such a bloody murder would have scattered significant blood and brain matter everywhere, yet there were no spatter or bloody footprints at the scene or signs of a cleanup. Nor was there any sign of blood in Dennis’ car.
The author wisely points out that all criminal investigations are difficult and there are often contradictory and unanswered questions. This is the real world where not all crimes are able to be solved.
Although we will never know what went on in the jury room, Marquis speculates that the jury simply did not believe Dennis’s account of the events. Nor did they believe all his testimony during the trial. He never tried to explain why he wore two different jackets to work the day of the murder or even why he was wearing a jacket on a warm July day when he was later seen in a golf shirt and shorts. Further doubt may have been planted when Dennis also changed his testimony about his relationship with his father and the number of times he visited his father’s office the day of the murder. He even brought forward new information about a workshop incident that might have accounted for his father’s blood on the infamous brown jacket. During the trial, he completely downplayed his financial problems, consistent with the way he handled them in his present life and his defense team never tried to explain them. And then there was the surprise decision by the defense not to call family members who were already scheduled as witnesses.
Oland’s calm, cool and confident demeanor may have been off putting to some jurors, who felt that once again those with money and powerful connections were able to dodge accountability for their actions. And it was puzzling that neither Dennis nor any of the Oland family ever appeared distraught over Richard’s death, an observation that may also have played into their decision.
This is a very readable, thoughtful and informative account of this case which has continued to evolve after the book was published. Appeals were filed, one to the Supreme Court which refused to hear the case, and one to the appeals court in New Brunswick which overturned the guilty verdict. They based their decision on the trial judge’s lack of caution to jurors about how much weight to place on the alleged lie by Oland about the colour of the jacket he wore on the day of the murder. Oland was subsequently released on bail pending his new trial in the fall of 2017.
What has been fascinating has been Oland’s behavior since his release from prison. As an executor and part heir to his father’s estate, he benefitted financially from his father’s death, becoming director of his father’s two companies and president of a third. Once again he has money and has been spending it lavishly, buying a new boat, travelling frequently, setting up his wife (who was also heavily in debt at the time of the murder) in a business and publically enjoying life. He does not appear to be a man threatened with possible jail time in the near future and has even set himself up in his father’s former office, his desk a few feet from the place where he was brutally murdered. All this information occurred after the trial and of course is not part of the case. Nevertheless it gives food for thought.
This high profile, fascinating trial continues to make history. It will be interesting to see if Marquis continues his account in another edition of the book once the new trial is over. If he does, I will certainly be ready to read his account of this continuing story.
Marquis’ methodical, competent account leads readers from the time the murder was committed, to the investigation, preliminary hearing, trial and final sentencing. It leaves the story unfinished as the appeal process was in progress, winding its way through the judicial system at the time the book was published. Those looking for salacious material or a “smoking gun” in this account will be disappointed. Instead Marquis gives the reader an educated observer’s account of the evidence presented in court, thoughtful questions about that evidence and an explanation of the legal questions not always easily understood by the common reader. It is all presented in the context of the small, economically disadvantaged, largely blue collar town of Saint John, where those with money hold a disproportional amount of political, social and economic power. The history of the brewing family which had remained free of the wrenching financial and power struggles that had gripped two other prominent Atlantic Maritime families, the Irvings and the McCains, was suddenly in the spotlight.
The media experienced difficulty following the events, frustrated by business and political leaders who refused to be interviewed, the scarcity of information released by the police and the dogged silence of the Oland family. That, along with the long delay between the time the murder was committed and Dennis Oland was charged, led many to speculate that the Crown believed Dennis had murdered his father but did not have the evidence to prove it.
Although many are familiar with the trial and followed it with a morbid fascination in the media, this book gives the reader a more complete and impartial account of the case, unencumbered by the use of sensational headlines often used to attract readers' attention. It is written by Greg Marquis, a well-respected scholar and professor of Canadian history at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, who specializes in the history of crime and policing. He provides readers an account of the investigation, the evidence presented at the preliminary inquiry in 2014 and the trial in 2015 with the available facts placed in a logical sequence. He explains the many delays and explores questions about the proceedings, all necessary for a complete understanding of the case. Marquis reminds readers he did not have access to full disclosure to write this account and it is based on the information presented in court. He did not see reports of the police investigation, police files or court records, but he did attend the trial every day and it is from that perspective he outlines the case.
Richard Oland was sixty-nine years old when he was bludgeoned to death in his downtown Saint John office on July 6, 2011. The brutal attack, consisting of forty-five blows to his head, delivered out of proportion to what was needed to kill him, was intense, violent and excessive, motivated by rage or revenge. He died within minutes. His son, 44 years old at the time, was the only serious suspect from the day the police began their investigation since he was the last known person to see his father alive. The Crown’s prosecution was based on their belief that Dennis’s financial problems and his father’s refusal to once again help him out, caused him to snap, lose control and attack him in a fit of anger. Dennis was not arrested until November of 2013 and not convicted of the crime until the fall of 2015.
The trial revealed information that had long been kept secret by the family. Richard, considered to be an astute businessman, actually inherited most of his wealth from his father. He had an abrasive personality, an aggressive business style and his share of enemies in the work world. His family life had long been in disarray. He had been married to his wife Connie for over forty years but that relationship was estranged and he was often away from home for weeks at a time. He was also involved with a mistress, a relationship known to both his wife and family.
In preliminary interviews, Richard’s family portrayed him as a narcissistic bully who was volatile and often verbally and emotionally abusive. They described him as overbearing and stingy with his money, especially when his family was concerned. His wife Constance said that Dennis, the only son of Richard’s three children, bore most of the abuse and had suffered the most, but she could never see him hurting his father. Outwardly Dennis appeared to both friends and family as a mild mannered family man and a good father, an unlikely candidate to commit murder. They remained steadfast in the belief that he was not his father’s killer.
Dennis and his wife Lisa were in sore financial difficulty and he was not performing well at Woody Gundy where he had approached his employer for a salary advance. Neither his family nor his friends were aware he was in such poor financial straits. He owed over $700,000 and had a negative cash flow at the bank, as automatic deductions for alimony and child support for his first wife regularly drained more money from his account each month than was being deposited. Despite clearly struggling to earn a middle class living and deeply in debt, Dennis did not change his behavior or alter his life style, seemingly oblivious to his dire predicament.
As Marquis’ narrative leads readers through the case, he poses one question to the reader: Was Dennis Oland responsible for the death of his father? Marquis does not answer that question himself. That was never his goal. Instead he asks the reader to draw their own conclusions from the evidence and decide whether they believe Dennis Oland is guilty. Marquis poses three possibilities: first that Oland is an innocent victim of police tunnel vision, a poorly planned and executed defense, class resentment or just plain bad luck; second that he is guilty and the police investigation, though not perfect was adequate and the Crown met the necessary burden of proof and finally, that Dennis probably did kill his father but the evidence is thin and he should be acquitted based on the principle of reasonable doubt.
Marquis reveals all the gaping holes in the investigation. They included the fact that the murder scene was never properly secured; the police did not always wear gloves when handling evidence; that long delays before search warrants were issued increased the possibility someone tampered with evidence and the scanty autopsy report which lacked an opinion on the type of weapon used or an estimate of the time of death. And there was that crucial piece of evidence about the jacket. When first questioned, Dennis said he had worn a navy blue jacket on the day his father was killed, but on the video showing him entering his father’s office that day, he was wearing a brown sports jacket, the jacket later proved to contain small amounts of Richard’s blood and DNA. And there was also that mysterious ping that came from Richard’s missing cell phone that could never be thoroughly explained, a ping which might have helped to place Dennis’s location at the time of the murder.
It is clear the Saint John Police Department, plagued by past scandal and unaccustomed to handling such a high profile murder case, had neither the experience nor the expertise to carry out a proper and thorough investigation. The number of police missteps was incredible and the defense was quick to pounce on them. With little physical evidence to connect Dennis to the murder, the case rested largely on circumstantial evidence. Marquis offers both the strength and the weaknesses of that evidence, leading readers to question its validity. He draws attention to the fact a murder weapon was never found (although a dry wall hammer was suspected) and as succinctly pointed out by the defense, such a bloody murder would have scattered significant blood and brain matter everywhere, yet there were no spatter or bloody footprints at the scene or signs of a cleanup. Nor was there any sign of blood in Dennis’ car.
The author wisely points out that all criminal investigations are difficult and there are often contradictory and unanswered questions. This is the real world where not all crimes are able to be solved.
Although we will never know what went on in the jury room, Marquis speculates that the jury simply did not believe Dennis’s account of the events. Nor did they believe all his testimony during the trial. He never tried to explain why he wore two different jackets to work the day of the murder or even why he was wearing a jacket on a warm July day when he was later seen in a golf shirt and shorts. Further doubt may have been planted when Dennis also changed his testimony about his relationship with his father and the number of times he visited his father’s office the day of the murder. He even brought forward new information about a workshop incident that might have accounted for his father’s blood on the infamous brown jacket. During the trial, he completely downplayed his financial problems, consistent with the way he handled them in his present life and his defense team never tried to explain them. And then there was the surprise decision by the defense not to call family members who were already scheduled as witnesses.
Oland’s calm, cool and confident demeanor may have been off putting to some jurors, who felt that once again those with money and powerful connections were able to dodge accountability for their actions. And it was puzzling that neither Dennis nor any of the Oland family ever appeared distraught over Richard’s death, an observation that may also have played into their decision.
This is a very readable, thoughtful and informative account of this case which has continued to evolve after the book was published. Appeals were filed, one to the Supreme Court which refused to hear the case, and one to the appeals court in New Brunswick which overturned the guilty verdict. They based their decision on the trial judge’s lack of caution to jurors about how much weight to place on the alleged lie by Oland about the colour of the jacket he wore on the day of the murder. Oland was subsequently released on bail pending his new trial in the fall of 2017.
What has been fascinating has been Oland’s behavior since his release from prison. As an executor and part heir to his father’s estate, he benefitted financially from his father’s death, becoming director of his father’s two companies and president of a third. Once again he has money and has been spending it lavishly, buying a new boat, travelling frequently, setting up his wife (who was also heavily in debt at the time of the murder) in a business and publically enjoying life. He does not appear to be a man threatened with possible jail time in the near future and has even set himself up in his father’s former office, his desk a few feet from the place where he was brutally murdered. All this information occurred after the trial and of course is not part of the case. Nevertheless it gives food for thought.
This high profile, fascinating trial continues to make history. It will be interesting to see if Marquis continues his account in another edition of the book once the new trial is over. If he does, I will certainly be ready to read his account of this continuing story.
January 22, 2017
I was anticipating a page turner and this fell a bit short of that. The writing was based off transcripts of the trial and, therefore fairly dry and analytical in style. Family dynamics are always interesting to me and true crimes are particularly intriguing as I am always fascinated by what drives someone to commit murder. This book touches briefly on the father/son relationship but not enough to make you feel Dennis would have been compelled to kill his father, Richard. Very little is said about any of the family relationships which to me is the meat of a good story. Why did Dennis' first marriage break up? How were the relationships between Dennis and his two siblings? Why wasn't more said about Richards 8 year affair with mistress Sedlacik? What about the relationship between brothers Derek and Richard? What about the marriage of Constance and Richard which is barely mentioned? So many unanswered questions that could have made this story meatier.
November 7, 2016
I highly recommend this book. A very informative and well written book about a very controversial issue.
February 29, 2020
3 stars
"Truth & Honour: The Death of Richard Oland and the Trial of Dennis Oland" takes readers through the gruesome accounts of the murder, the trial, and the impact this unspeakable crime had on the city of Saint John and the Oland family. When Richard Oland was murdered on July 7th, 2011, an entire city was turned upside down. Richard Oland was a prominent businessman and he was familiar to many.
This true crime account takes a look at the events leading up to the murder, the murder itself, and it's aftermath. The story discusses the difficulties faced by Dennis Oland and his financial woes as well as the botched investigation into the crime by the Saint John Police Force. This case took Canada by storm and placed Saint John on the map in regards to one of the most prolific crime cases in Canadian history.
One aspect I particularly liked with this book was the references made to other Canadian historical crimes and their impacts on those around them. Those Canadian crimes discussed include the infamous Allan Legere, Paul Bernardo, and Dellen Millard. All of these criminal cases sent Canada into a media firestorm and the Richard Oland case was certainly no different.
This book also takes a look at the poverty and crime rate of Saint John, New Brunswick and details some of the everyday struggles the average Saint Johner is accustomed to on a daily basis. The Oland murder was not a typical crime for Saint John as most crime is related to street crime and poverty. In the book on Page 7 (found in the introduction) it states "In Saint John where the Oland trial was held (and from where part of the jury was drawn) in 2012 had a poverty rate of 18.8 percent, one of the highest child-poverty rates in Canada, a teen pregnancy rate double the national average, and a large minority rate of families headed by a single parent. As Dennis Oland would be told during his first police interview, the SJPF was accustomed to investigating suspects who were poor and had criminal records. In fact, the period 2010 to 2015, only one other murder or manslaughter in the Saint John area involved a victim or accused who was middle class."
The murder of Richard Oland truly shocked Saint John and it's surrounding communities as he was so well-known and had such a prominent drive behind some of the city's most successful endeavours such as The Canada Games Aquatic Centre and Moosehead Breweries just to name a few. It was most definitely a crime of passion and a killer walked free.
The author Greg Marquis is a professor at UNBSJ where he teaches Canadian and criminal justice history. He has also written "Policing Canada's Century: A History of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police", "Armageddon's Shadow: Canada's Maritime Provinces and the Civil War", and "The Viligant Eye: Policing Canada from 1867 to 9/11". Greg Marquis lives in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada with his wife.
"Truth & Honour: The Death of Richard Oland and the Trial of Dennis Oland" takes readers through the gruesome accounts of the murder, the trial, and the impact this unspeakable crime had on the city of Saint John and the Oland family. When Richard Oland was murdered on July 7th, 2011, an entire city was turned upside down. Richard Oland was a prominent businessman and he was familiar to many.
This true crime account takes a look at the events leading up to the murder, the murder itself, and it's aftermath. The story discusses the difficulties faced by Dennis Oland and his financial woes as well as the botched investigation into the crime by the Saint John Police Force. This case took Canada by storm and placed Saint John on the map in regards to one of the most prolific crime cases in Canadian history.
One aspect I particularly liked with this book was the references made to other Canadian historical crimes and their impacts on those around them. Those Canadian crimes discussed include the infamous Allan Legere, Paul Bernardo, and Dellen Millard. All of these criminal cases sent Canada into a media firestorm and the Richard Oland case was certainly no different.
This book also takes a look at the poverty and crime rate of Saint John, New Brunswick and details some of the everyday struggles the average Saint Johner is accustomed to on a daily basis. The Oland murder was not a typical crime for Saint John as most crime is related to street crime and poverty. In the book on Page 7 (found in the introduction) it states "In Saint John where the Oland trial was held (and from where part of the jury was drawn) in 2012 had a poverty rate of 18.8 percent, one of the highest child-poverty rates in Canada, a teen pregnancy rate double the national average, and a large minority rate of families headed by a single parent. As Dennis Oland would be told during his first police interview, the SJPF was accustomed to investigating suspects who were poor and had criminal records. In fact, the period 2010 to 2015, only one other murder or manslaughter in the Saint John area involved a victim or accused who was middle class."
The murder of Richard Oland truly shocked Saint John and it's surrounding communities as he was so well-known and had such a prominent drive behind some of the city's most successful endeavours such as The Canada Games Aquatic Centre and Moosehead Breweries just to name a few. It was most definitely a crime of passion and a killer walked free.
The author Greg Marquis is a professor at UNBSJ where he teaches Canadian and criminal justice history. He has also written "Policing Canada's Century: A History of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police", "Armageddon's Shadow: Canada's Maritime Provinces and the Civil War", and "The Viligant Eye: Policing Canada from 1867 to 9/11". Greg Marquis lives in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada with his wife.
August 9, 2017
In July 2011, the body of 69-year-old businessman Richard Oland was found in his office in Saint John, NB. The Oland family owns Moosehead Breweries Limited, which is Canada's oldest independent brewery. The brewery was founded in 1867 and is still privately owned and operated by the Oland family.
Richard had been bludgeoned to death (he'd suffered 45 blows to the head, neck and hands). In November 2013, Oland's only son, Dennis, was officially charged with second degree murder and found guilty in December 2015. Dennis was sentenced to life in prison, with a possibility of parole in 10 years. His lawyers immediately began the appeals process, which was successful, and Dennis' conviction was overturned in October 2016 (he'd spent ten months in prison). A new trial was ordered, which should start next year.
Dennis is supposedly the last known person to see his father alive. During the first trial, the Crown suggested Dennis' possible motives for killing his father were his financial struggles and/or alleged anger over his father's extramarital affair with a real estate agent. A key piece of evidence in the Crown's case against him was a blood-stained brown sports jacket, found in his bedroom closet a week after his father's body was discovered. It had four small bloodstains on it which DNA matched to his father's. Dennis has denied any involvement in his father's death and his extended family has stood by him from the beginning, maintaining he is innocent.
This is a very comprehensive book about this case (I'd heard about it over the years in the news) and I found it interesting. There is a lot of detail and it's obvious the author spent a great deal of time researching it. It was first published in October 2016 but was updated in April 2017 with a chapter about the conviction being overturned and what lies ahead for Dennis.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/08...
Richard had been bludgeoned to death (he'd suffered 45 blows to the head, neck and hands). In November 2013, Oland's only son, Dennis, was officially charged with second degree murder and found guilty in December 2015. Dennis was sentenced to life in prison, with a possibility of parole in 10 years. His lawyers immediately began the appeals process, which was successful, and Dennis' conviction was overturned in October 2016 (he'd spent ten months in prison). A new trial was ordered, which should start next year.
Dennis is supposedly the last known person to see his father alive. During the first trial, the Crown suggested Dennis' possible motives for killing his father were his financial struggles and/or alleged anger over his father's extramarital affair with a real estate agent. A key piece of evidence in the Crown's case against him was a blood-stained brown sports jacket, found in his bedroom closet a week after his father's body was discovered. It had four small bloodstains on it which DNA matched to his father's. Dennis has denied any involvement in his father's death and his extended family has stood by him from the beginning, maintaining he is innocent.
This is a very comprehensive book about this case (I'd heard about it over the years in the news) and I found it interesting. There is a lot of detail and it's obvious the author spent a great deal of time researching it. It was first published in October 2016 but was updated in April 2017 with a chapter about the conviction being overturned and what lies ahead for Dennis.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/08...
June 28, 2023
Emily: Informative and Meticulous!
Truth & Honour by Greg Marquis was a well-researched read! Focusing heavily on the murder of prominent New Brunswick business man, Richard Oland, this story is an extremely detailed read. The author does not skip out when it comes to all the aspects of this case, digging deep into all the evidence that was collected, retelling the trial of the supposed murderer, and looking at the relationship between the media and this case. I had only vaguely knew of this case before, having heard it on the news many moons ago, and this book certainly enlightened me. Anyone who loves crime and law, as well as forensics, should consider reading this book. This book was extremely informative, meticulous, and overall a good read when you're looking for a case where you get to examine the evidence and come up with your own verdict. 4/5
Truth & Honour by Greg Marquis was a well-researched read! Focusing heavily on the murder of prominent New Brunswick business man, Richard Oland, this story is an extremely detailed read. The author does not skip out when it comes to all the aspects of this case, digging deep into all the evidence that was collected, retelling the trial of the supposed murderer, and looking at the relationship between the media and this case. I had only vaguely knew of this case before, having heard it on the news many moons ago, and this book certainly enlightened me. Anyone who loves crime and law, as well as forensics, should consider reading this book. This book was extremely informative, meticulous, and overall a good read when you're looking for a case where you get to examine the evidence and come up with your own verdict. 4/5
June 8, 2018
Very readable and informative - The provided background was so thorough. Given my appreciation for the business side of a successful family business, I really enjoyed this true crime story. I’m dying to know the truth - why the son killed the dad - and if he definitely did it. Author provided a lot of good guesses as to why or why not....
January 23, 2022
I gave it a 5 star rating but that is with bias; I am from the Saint John and have been aware of the murder and trials from the beginning. For someone not from the area this may be a less compelling read.
November 10, 2022
This book stuck very much just to facts. I had hoped I would read something I hadn't read in the papers or heard on news at the time but I didn't gain any insight. It's a very good compilation of facts, and covers all the details of the trial,evidence and characters involved.
October 15, 2021
I read this as an audio book and was happy to hear the reassuring voice of Costas Halavrezos narrate this well researched and balanced overview of the trial of Dennis Oland.
February 23, 2017
of course this is a 5 star!!
http://www.nbbaward.com/?page_id=17
http://www.nbbaward.com/?page_id=17
December 13, 2016
A lot of repetitive information but over all a good read. Still can't make up my mind as to whether he did it or not.
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