Deceased/Not Found Canada - Alvin, 66, & Kathy Liknes, 53, Nathan O'Brien, 5, Calgary, 30 Jun 2014 - #20

[news.talk]

Is it court day?

Just started.

 

[LoisLane]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ary-inquiry-begins-in-calgary-today-1.3078348
"A Calgary judge is expected to hear details about the 2014 murders of five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, Kathy and Alvin Liknes, for the first time, as a preliminary inquiry for accused Douglas Garland gets underway today.

The courtroom will likely be packed, but the evidence will be protected by a publication ban."

 

[LoisLane]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ary-inquiry-begins-in-calgary-today-1.3078348

"Though Nathan and his grandparents were missing for two weeks before police laid murder charges, a court document shows investigators believe they died on June 30, the day they were reported missing by Nathan's mother.

A preliminary inquiry gives the lawyers an opportunity to test their evidence.

With no bodies and likely no eyewitnesses, forensic evidence gathered at the Liknes's home as well as the Garland property will be at the heart of this case.

"I like the idea of a preliminary inquiry. It gives us a chance to test drive some of the evidence — make sure where we're at in terms of some of the behind-the-scenes work," said Crown prosecutor Shane Parker in a previous interview.

"It gives us more time to make sure we're ready once the jury trial is slated to go."

Garland's lawyer, Kim Ross, says the case involves the most significant amount of disclosure he has ever seen.

The inquiry is set for two weeks. After that, the provincial court judge will rule on what charges Garland will face at trial."

 

[Cherchri]

I couldnt make it! I was there first thing this morning and there were crowds lining up to get in. News trucks and cameramen everywhere. Hoping to make it one morning this week but my work is keeping me on the fly Hoping NewsTalk can keep us informed.

 

[Cherchri]

http://www.abbynews.com/national/304240921.html Interesting paragraph. Did we know the search resumed in March? Does that mean he has opened up a little?

"Investigators have continued to comb through several properties surrounding the property near Airdrie, north of Calgary, where Garland lived. A search last year went on for weeks and police resumed looking for evidence in the same area in March."

 

[OutOfTheDarkness]

http://www.abbynews.com/national/304240921.html Interesting paragraph. Did we know searched resumed in March? Does that mean he has opened up a little?

"Investigators have continued to comb through several properties surrounding the property near Airdrie, north of Calgary, where Garland lived. A search last year went on for weeks and police resumed looking for evidence in the same area in March."

"Police made a point of clarifying Sunday their latest presence at the acreage is to gather evidence only — there is no new information on the location of the victims, they said."

http://m.calgarysun.com/2015/03/29/...brien-and-grandparents-kathy-and-alvin-liknes

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Just started.

Thanks News! I bet it's super intense, hope you're able to give us a sense of the atmosphere and DG's demeanor in the prelim.

 

[wendiesan]

FWIW: Here are two transcripts I typed out--not official. All mistakes are my own.


Unofficial Transcript of TV Reports Re: Douglas Garland Preliminary Hearing

This is an unofficial transcript. It is not connected with anyone involved in the case, or any of the media covering the case. All mistakes are my own.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2004832/p...ns-for-accused-triple-murder-douglas-garland/

Global News
Noon News Hour Calgary: Preliminary hearing begins for accused triple murderer Douglas Garland.
Posted May 19m 2015 10:20 am
Updated: May 19, 2015 11:57 am

News Anchor: NA
Reporter: Nancy Hixt=NH

NA: The preliminary hearing is underway in one of Calgary's most high profile murder cases. Fifty-five year old Douglas Garland is accused of killing five year old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, Kathy and Alvin Liknes. They disappeared last June and their bodies were never found.

Nancy Hixt is at the Calgary Court Centre with the latest. Nancy.

NH: Well, there's a lot of emotion for both the families of the victims in this case and the accused. Today's the first time that many of them have heard any of the details that are being presented. We can't report on the details as there is a publication ban in this case.

Fifty-five year old Douglas Garland is in court wearing a blue prison jumpsuit. He has shackles on his feet and he's sitting in the prisoners' box. He shows no emotion as he listens to the proceedings.

Five year old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathy Liknes, were last seen June 29th, 2014, in their Parkhill home. Their bodies have never been found.

Garland was arrested in mid-July last year and charged with two counts of first degree and one count of second degree murder. Police searched his family's acreage near Airdrie for weeks, and then returned for yet another search at the end of March this year.

This preliminary inquiry is expected to last for two weeks. At the end of that two weeks, Provincial Court Judge Bob Wilkins is expected to rule on whether he feels there is enough evidence for this matter to proceed to trial.


Global News
Preliminary to begin for Douglas Garland

News Anchor Male: Scott Fee=SF
News Anchor Female: NAF
Reporter: Sarah Offin=SO

NAF: Topping the news now, a preliminary hearing is set to begin today for the man accused in the deaths of five year old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents.

NAM: Douglas Garland faces murder charges, and Sarah Offin, who is following this story, joins us now from the Calgary Court Centre where the story will unfold this morning. Good morning, Sarah.

SO: Good morning, Scott. Yes, it took more than two weeks last July for police to finally lay charges against Douglas Garland, but we still don't know what evidence police had against the fifty-four year old to lay charges at that time.

They never did find the bodies of Kathy and Alvin Liknes and their five year old grandson, Nathan O'Brien. They went missing from the couple's Parkhill home following an estate sale in June prompting an Amber Alert.

Police said then there was evidence of a violent struggle within the home, and, a week later, a tip about a green truck seen near the home led police to an Airdrie property where Garland lived with his parents. It was another week of massive searches around that property before police lay charges.

We know a quantity of chemicals were located at the Garland home. He's a convicted drug cooker. But, we don't know what evidence exactly police had in order to lay those charges. So, this week, people will begin hearing the crown's case. The evidence still cannot be reported because, again, this is just a preliminary hearing. But, again, by the end of the month, we should know whether or not there is enough evidence to go ahead with the trial. Scott.

SF: All right. Thanks so much for the update, Sarah.

SO: You're welcome.

SF: Sarah Offin covering the story for us this morning from Calgary Court Centre.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ary-inquiry-begins-in-calgary-today-1.3078348

"Though Nathan and his grandparents were missing for two weeks before police laid murder charges, a court document shows investigators believe they died on June 30, the day they were reported missing by Nathan's mother.

A preliminary inquiry gives the lawyers an opportunity to test their evidence.

With no bodies and likely no eyewitnesses, forensic evidence gathered at the Liknes's home as well as the Garland property will be at the heart of this case.

"I like the idea of a preliminary inquiry. It gives us a chance to test drive some of the evidence — make sure where we're at in terms of some of the behind-the-scenes work," said Crown prosecutor Shane Parker in a previous interview.

"It gives us more time to make sure we're ready once the jury trial is slated to go."

Garland's lawyer, Kim Ross, says the case involves the most significant amount of disclosure he has ever seen.

The inquiry is set for two weeks. After that, the provincial court judge will rule on what charges Garland will face at trial."

I might be over thinking this, but the sentence about the trio being deceased June 30th the day JO reported them missing, could mean the murders happened after midnight or the next day after they were taken. I'm thinking this might mean DG entered the house after midnight and the murder occurred then and there.

 

[news.talk]

Court today was pretty much paperwork. There is a strict publication ban, so I can't divulge much... I can say that DG appeared in person today. Many of the victims family were in attendance. DG remained stoned-faced throughout, avoiding eye contact. He was wearing a blue prison jumpsuit and remained cuffed. The gallery was packed and the mood was restless. There is a lot of evidence to be presented and testimonies. I was only there for the first hour and a half, but I am told not much other than motions and preparation was done.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Court today was pretty much paperwork. There is a strict publication ban, so I can't divulge much... I can say that DG appeared in person today. Many of the victims family were in attendance. DG remained stoned-faced throughout, avoiding eye contact. He was wearing a blue prison jumpsuit and remained cuffed. The gallery was packed and the mood was restless. There is a lot of evidence to be presented and testimonies. I was only there for the first hour and a half, but I am told not much other than motions and preparation was done.

Thanks for the update News, sounds brutal for the families.

 

[news.talk]

I cannot even imagine how they will be able to get through the details of the evidence. As a parent, I know all too well how just the thought of a child hurt is heartbreaking... This will likley be the first time the family gets to hear what their child had to endure.

 

[news.talk]

Here is a timeline outlining the case thus far:

http://globalnews.ca/news/1445696/t...amily-nathan-obrien-alvin-and-kathryn-liknes/

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I cannot even imagine how they will be able to get through the details of the evidence. As a parent, I know all too well how just the thought of a child hurt is heartbreaking... This will likley be the first time the family gets to hear what their child had to endure.

Yeah, can't imagine. I hope Nathan didn't suffer, I imagine the adults did sadly, but I really hope the child didn't witness or realize what was happening.This story will always haunt me because of little Nathan being caught in a murderer's demented line of fire.

 

[LoisLane]

I might be over thinking this, but the sentence about the trio being deceased June 30th the day JO reported them missing, could mean the murders happened after midnight or the next day after they were taken. I'm thinking this might mean DG entered the house after midnight and the murder occurred then and there.

I am not sure what to think of the date.

 

[LoisLane]

I cannot even imagine how they will be able to get through the details of the evidence. As a parent, I know all too well how just the thought of a child hurt is heartbreaking... This will likley be the first time the family gets to hear what their child had to endure.

Maybe this is a silly question but does the Crown have to prove how they died? How detailed and accurate would those details have to be?

 

[news.talk]

Yeah, can't imagine. I hope Nathan didn't suffer, I imagine the adults did sadly, but I really hope the child didn't witness or realize what was happening.This story will always haunt me because of little Nathan being caught in a murderer's demented line of fire.

There is a part of me that doesn't want to hear the evidence of the actual murders... I have a feeling that he did suffer and the whole scene wasn't quick and painless.... Will know more, whether I like it or not, soon.

 

[news.talk]

Maybe this is a silly question but does the Crown have to prove how they died? How detailed and accurate would those details have to be?

Yes. The most important part of their case, will be the evidence showing that they are in fact, dead. The manner of death will be a key factor and is likely the crux of their case. They will need to show that there is no way that they could have survived. I also suspect we will finally discover how they were disposed of. I firmly believe that there are no remains left to be found. That will also be an important part of the case.

The trick, will be connecting DG to the murders. I suspect that we might hear about CCTV footage that shows *something* in the back of the truck upon leaving the area. I also suspect that there is DNA evidence in the truck and found on the acreage.

Hopefully tomorrow, they will start digging into the evidence.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

There is a part of me that doesn't want to hear the evidence of the actual murders... I have a feeling that he did suffer and the whole scene wasn't quick and painless.... Will know more, whether I like it or not, soon.

ITA, there's no good news or optimism on this one, I have a feeling I'll burst into tears at the first detail I hear. This story is so emotional for me (and I'm sure any mom/parent who has dropped their child off to visit their grandparents).

I am hoping ('hoping' doesn't seem like an appropriate word to use does it?) that little NO and KL were sleeping and didn't realize the event.

I definitely think a struggle happened between DG and AL, I just hope the struggle was between the two men only.

 

[news.talk]

ITA, there's no good news or optimism on this one, I have a feeling I'll burst into tears at the first detail I hear. This story is so emotional for me (and I'm sure any mom/parent who has dropped their child off to visit their grandparents).

I am hoping ('hoping' doesn't seem like an appropriate word to use does it?) that little NO and KL were sleeping and didn't realize the event.

I definitely think a struggle happened between DG and AL, I just hope the struggle was between the two men only.

It will be a tough one, that's for sure. I won't be able to look at the parents or *I* will start crying! There is a part of me that hopes that they were told how they died prior to this hearing, and that they will be somewhat prepared.

Sadly LaLa, I suspect that the details will be brutal, and their deaths were horrific. Here's hoping you are right though.