Dennis Oland has taken his fight to be released pending the outcome of his appeal of his murder conviction all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The 48-year-old Oland, who has been convicted of second-degree murder in the 2011 death of his father, high profile businessman and multimilionaire Richard Oland, has applied to Canada’s highest court seeking permission to appeal the New Brunswick Court of Appeal’s decision to deny bail.
In February, Justice JC Marc Richard denied Oland bail saying that if he was released the public’s confidence in the justice system would be undermined. A review was held and the New Brunswick Court of Appeal confirmed the decision with Chief Justice of N.B. Ernest Drapeau saying that Oland had failed to make the case for reversal.
A statement sent on behalf of Oland’s lawyers by Oland family lawyer Bill Teed says the application is based on the fact that appeal courts across Canada have expressed differing opinions on the legal test for bail pending appeal.
“We see Dennis Oland’s case as a potential opportunity for the Supreme Court of Canada to clarify this point of law,” the e-mail states. It also notes that there will be no further comment at this time.
The Supreme Court of Canada hears an average of between 65 and 80 appeals annually.
Oland’s appeal of his conviction has been scheduled for October 18 in Fredericton, NB. Oland was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole for at least 10 years. The body of Richard Oland was found face down in a pool of blood in his investment firm office uptown Saint John on July 7, 2011. He suffered 45 sharp and blunt force blows to his head, hands and neck.
