A retired staff sergeant broke down on the stand while testifying at Dennis Oland’s second-degree murder trial on Monday.
Mike King’s testimony focused mainly on the role he played after Richard Oland’s body was found in his uptown Saint John office.
King told the court he entered the crime scene at 52 Canterbury Street twice on July 7, 2011, including once with Insp. Glen McCloskey.
Crown asks King if he was wearing any protective clothing when he went in, and King replies “no”. He estimates he was in the office for about “30 seconds, a minute.” Says he did not touch anything in the room.
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) January 7, 2019
But King also testified about a conversation he had in 2014 with McCloskey, who later became deputy chief and is now retired.
He said McCloskey told him Sgt. Mark Smith said McCloskey did not go into the crime scene but Const. Greg Oram said he did.
King said his response was, “you were in there,” to which McCloskey replied, “you don’t have to tell them that.”
He said he told McCloskey, “I haven’t lied on the stand in 33 years … I’m telling the truth.”
King, who retired in 2015, gave the same explosive testimony during Oland’s first trial more than three years ago.
The retired sergeant says he pointed out McCloskey was at the scene, and he replied, “well, you don’t have to tell him that.” King said he then responded with “I haven’t lied on the stand in 33 years … I’m telling the truth.”
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) January 7, 2019
Under cross-examination, when King was asked if it was easy to give the evidence about McCloskey, he started to cry and said “no”.
King also testified about being called to a break-in on Germain Street the day after Oland’s body was discovered.
He said officers found some blood and a hammer, but the Major Crime Unit determined it was unrelated to the Oland matter.
Defence lawyer Alan Gold said neither he nor the Crown heard about this incident before and they have asked for disclosure.
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
(File photo/Acadia News)
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