Judge releases new documents in Richard Oland homicide investigation

SAINT JOHN, N.B. – An affidavit in the homicide investigation of Richard Oland says a man was seen behaving unusually at a wharf the day before the businessman’s body was found.

The document released Friday says the man looks similar to Oland’s son, Dennis, who police have said is the suspect in the case.

No charges have been laid against him and no arrests have been made since Richard Oland was found dead.

The document says Barbara Murray told police in Saint John, N.B., that she saw a man “dressed very nice” walk briskly by her van in a parking lot towards the Renforth Wharf in Rothesay on July 6, 2011.

The affidavit from Saint John police Sgt. Tony Hayes says Murray told investigators that the man stopped and picked something up at beginning of the wharf before walking to the end of the wharf, where he opened a bag and took something red out.

Murray told police that the man then wrapped the item he picked up at the beginning of the wharf and put it in the bag before walking briskly back towards the parking lot.

The affidavit also says police spoke with her about three months later, when she told them one of the pallbearers at Oland’s funeral looked “very similar” to the man she saw at the wharf.

The document says Const. Stephen Davidson, the lead investigator in the case, recognized the pallbearer as being Oland’s son, Dennis.

A New Brunswick judge ordered the release of a redacted version of the affidavit today.

Portions of search warrants made public in May say his son Dennis is the suspect in the slaying.

Oland’s body was found in his Saint John office on July 7, 2011.