Richard Oland’s business associate Robert McFadden testifying at the second-degree murder trial of Dennis Oland that in all the time he has known them, he has never witnessed any animosity between Richard Oland and his son, Dennis, and that he has never seen Dennis raise a finger against his father. The jury has heard that McFadden first met Richard around 1980-1981 and met Dennis in 1995.
While under cross-examination by defence lawyer Alan Gold, McFadden also agreeing that when it comes to $538-thousand Richard Oland gave his son for his divorce, Richard wasn’t mad at Dennis Oland over it. Gold also bringing up various other times that Richard has helped out his only son financially in the past and McFadden confirming that Richard never expressed a bad word about Dennis.
McFadden testifying that Richard Oland had named he and Dennis as co-executors of his estate as well as trustrees. The jury has heard from McFadden that the combined value of all of Richard Oland’s companies was $36-million as of July 6, 2011. Richard Oland’s bludgeoned body was discovered in his office located at 52 Canterbury Street on July 7, 2011.
McFadden says that as a co-executor he received $765-thousand and as a trustree he received $50-thousand for his trustee. Dennis received $100-thousand as co-executor and $50-thousand as trustee. Asked why there was a difference in the amount he and Dennis received for being co-executors, McFadden says, “the short answer is that is the amount of executor fee is determined by process and the two executors decide between themselves how it is divided.”
McFadden testifying that after Richard’s death Dennis became president of the holding company and McFadden is the president of Far End Corporation. McFadden agreeing these were perfectly proper given the structure of Richard’s will. He also agrees that these appointements had to be done quickly following Richard’s death to make sure the assets did not dissipate.
Gold also asking McFadden about the back door leading to the alleyway outside of the Far End Corporation offices at 52 Canterbury Street. McFadden telling the jury it’s not hard to close it behind you, saying you can go out, pull it and it seemed to “self-shut.” The defence has suggested this would be the preferred exit route for the killer.
CHSJ News reporter Laura Lyall is covering the Dennis Oland trial and is live-tweeting the proceedings from the courtroom. You can follow along by going to the CHSJ News Twitter page or the Wave News Twitter page.
