Deceased/Not Found Canada - Alvin, 66, & Kathy Liknes, 53, Nathan O'Brien, 5, Calgary, 30 Jun 2014 - #21

[otto]

I don't think there is any doubt that the accused is guilty, so I have to wonder why he does not plead guilty to spare the family the painful evidentiary experience. Instead, he has chosen a jury trial - not the best odds for his circumstances.

I think he has something to say, something to prove, something to justify ... that he was cheated by Alvin, and the child was a bad decision. My guess is that this will result in a first degree murder conviction, perhaps he will be one of the few who serves a consecutive sentence ... because someone like him should not be allowed in society at any age.

I think he wants to expose his perception that Alvin and Kathryn Liknes took financial advantage of his family.

 

[JadeSLeuth]

I don't there is any doubt that the accused is guilty, so I have to wonder why he does not plead guilty to spare the family the painful evidentiary experience. Instead, he has chosen a jury trial - not the best odds for his circumstances.

I think he has something to say, something to prove, something to justify ... that he was cheated by Alvin, and the child was a bad decision. My guess is that this will result in a first degree murder conviction, perhaps he will be one of the few who serves a consecutive sentence ... because someone like him should not be allowed in society at any age.

I think he wants to expose his perception that Alvin and Kathryn Liknes took financial advantage of his family.

I think he wants to get up and speak and tell everyone "the truth" about Alvin. Or something. Or, it'll be a complete denial.

 

[otto]

I think he wants to get up and speak and tell everyone "the truth" about Alvin. Or something. Or, it'll be a complete denial.

Agreed ... he has a point to prove, and he feels justified in his decisions right up to the point where he was faced with killing a child, and for that he improvised and still decided to murder a young child who was nothing more than a terrified witness.

He must be remorseful for that decision since he was caught anyway.

 

[Slebby]

Found it:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/crime...conclude-missing-boy-grandparents-likely-dead

Tricia, this will help you understand the crime scene evidence thanks to ColdPizza's hard work in the media thread.

Going through this timeline, I am reminded of of a few things. One, how hard the CPS must have worked, that DG was already a person of interest, 4 days into the investigation. Second, I am reminded about the Amber alert, how hopeful we were that NO had merely been kidnapped, and would eventually be found by alert citizens. Finally, how totally devastating it was, the day the crime was officially deemed a triple murder. Our hearts broke.

I truly am relieved the wheels of justice have brought us to today and just days away from the start of the trial.

IMO


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[otto]

Going through this timeline, I am reminded of of a few things. One, how hard the CPS must have worked, that DG was already a person of interest, 4 days into the investigation. Second, I am reminded about the Amber alert, how hopeful we were that NO had merely been kidnapped, and would eventually be found by alert citizens. Finally, how totally devastating it was, the day the crime was officially deemed a triple murder. Our hearts broke.

I truly am relieved the wheels of justice have brought us to today and just days away from the start of the trial.

IMO

I am reminded of the relief experienced by Calgarians when they learned that this wasn't a random event associated with an 'estate' sale, but rather a familial dispute.

 

[JadeSLeuth]

Going through this timeline, I am reminded of of a few things. One, how hard the CPS must have worked, that DG was already a person of interest, 4 days into the investigation. Second, I am reminded about the Amber alert, how hopeful we were that NO had merely been kidnapped, and would eventually be found by alert citizens. Finally, how totally devastating it was, the day the crime was officially deemed a triple murder. Our hearts broke.

I truly am relieved the wheels of justice have brought us to today and just days away from the start of the trial.

IMO


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I remember CPS digging through the dump, looking for anything in unbearable heat...

 

[deugirtni]

Just a thought, but I think it had not really occurred to me before. If DG had gone to the home in darkness, and perhaps already knew the layout (after perhaps having walked around the house during the 'estate sale' earlier in the day?), he may have bee-lined directly to the bedrooms with the purpose of killing in mind, for 'revenge'.. and.. by whichever method he killed them by, perhaps just killed them... not necessarily even knowing at the time, who exactly he was killing at that moment in time?

From initial reports (which were made public months later - see below quotes and link ETA I guess it was pretty much exactly one year later that the pub ban was not renewed on the affidavit info), it seemed to me that 2 of the victims may have been killed while sleeping in their separate beds/bedrooms. If DG had gone straight for the bedrooms, found one person in the master bedroom, killed that person, then found another person in another bedroom, killed that person.. is it conceivable that he may not have realized at the time that one of those people he killed was not one of his targets? (May have just been a head sticking out with the rest of the body/size hidden with bedding). And then.. from the description of that same initial affidavit, he may have run into a third victim as he came down the stairs, and killed that person too.

"In a guest bedroom upstairs, Matthes found blood on the head of the bed and neighbouring nightstand. When the officer walked down the hallway to the master bedroom, he observed the same thing."

"The affidavit noted blood droplets in the main floor kitchen and at the foot of stairwell leading to the second floor. From there, Matthes observed “a significant amount of blood” on the stairs and the wall next to them."

Is it possible that DG killed little NO in error? That could answer the question as to why he didn't spare little NO, and also why his charge was subsequently upped to first degree from second degree murder. Police may have charged him initially with 2nd degree, knowing that he had not 'planned' on killing NO... but because he had gone there with a plan to murder, it made no difference whether he happened to kill the right victim or not, the charge would still be first degree?

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/c...g-calgary-5-year-old-grandparents-likely-dead

The above link also notes that 2 dumbbells were found in the garage, one of which had blood on it.

“Inside the garage Cst. Matthes observed two dumbbells in front of the parked vehicle and noted that one of the dumbbells appeared to have blood on it.”

 

[otto]

Just a thought, but I think it had not really occurred to me before. If DG had gone to the home in darkness, and perhaps already knew the layout (after perhaps having walked around the house during the 'estate sale' earlier in the day?), he may have bee-lined directly to the bedrooms with the purpose of killing in mind, for 'revenge'.. and.. by whichever method he killed them by, perhaps just killed them... not necessarily even knowing at the time, who exactly he was killing at that moment in time?

From initial reports (which were made public months later - see below quotes and link ETA I guess it was pretty much exactly one year later that the pub ban was not renewed on the affidavit info), it seemed to me that 2 of the victims may have been killed while sleeping in their separate beds/bedrooms. If DG had gone straight for the bedrooms, found one person in the master bedroom, killed that person, then found another person in another bedroom, killed that person.. is it conceivable that he may not have realized at the time that one of those people he killed was not one of his targets? (May have just been a head sticking out with the rest of the body/size hidden with bedding). And then.. from the description of that same initial affidavit, he may have run into a third victim as he came down the stairs, and killed that person too.

"In a guest bedroom upstairs, Matthes found blood on the head of the bed and neighbouring nightstand. When the officer walked down the hallway to the master bedroom, he observed the same thing."

"The affidavit noted blood droplets in the main floor kitchen and at the foot of stairwell leading to the second floor. From there, Matthes observed “a significant amount of blood” on the stairs and the wall next to them."

Is it possible that DG killed little NO in error? That could answer the question as to why he didn't spare little NO, and also why his charge was subsequently upped to first degree from second degree murder. Police may have charged him initially with 2nd degree, knowing that he had not 'planned' on killing NO... but because he had gone there with a plan to murder, it made no difference whether he happened to kill the right victim or not, the charge would still be first degree?

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/c...g-calgary-5-year-old-grandparents-likely-dead

The above link also notes that 2 dumbbells were found in the garage, one of which had blood on it.

“Inside the garage Cst. Matthes observed two dumbbells in front of the parked vehicle and noted that one of the dumbbells appeared to have blood on it.”

The blood on the stairs is probably from dragging the victims.

 

[otto]

Marking my spot ready for tomorrow

Cell phones aren't allowed in the courtroom, so there wan't be any updates until the noon and end of day breaks.

 

[deugirtni]

Cell phones aren't allowed in the courtroom, so there wan't be any updates until the noon and end of day breaks.

Not sure if same in AB, but in Ontario the reporters are live tweeting at the trials. Only reporters are of course, allowed to do so.

 

[deugirtni]

Not sure if this article had been posted.

Prosecutors Shane Parker and Vickie Faulkner expect to call about 60 witnesses.

It's unknown whether defence lawyers Kim Ross and Jim Lutz will present any evidence

.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...glas-garland-trial-family-statement-1.3932695

 

[deugirtni]

It seems that these reporters may be worth watching for tweets at the DG trial:

https://twitter.com/cbcmeg?lang=en

https://twitter.com/nancyhixt?lang=en

https://twitter.com/kmartincourts?lang=en

 

[deugirtni]

I'm not sure if this article had been posted previously either:

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/jury-selection-for-garlands-murder-trial-adds-another-twist

 

[deugirtni]

It seems that Meghan Grant and NH were live tweeting at the Matthew de Grood trial; Kevin Martin was tweeting live at DG's jury selection. Hopefully the reporters do a great job of filling in the public as it goes along, as they did in the Tim Bosma trial last year!

 

[otto]

"The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench (ABQB) has a similar Electronic and Wireless Devices Policy, requiring that all electronic devices be turned off in its courtrooms, but exempting counsel and some members of the media from that rule. "

http://ablawg.ca/2013/11/06/order-i...-in-alberta-courts-and-freedom-of-expression/

 

[JadeSLeuth]

I was just reading Kevin Martin's Twitter coverage of the jury selection last week (@KMartinCourts). Thoughts on the jury being heavily weighted with men? 11 men - 3 women plus 2 female alternates.
Kevin noted at one point early on , 18 of 21 women had been rejected. Largely by Defense.

 

[Snoopster]

Here's hoping this is an airtight case! I am very curious about what evidence they have.

 

[deugirtni]

I was just reading Kevin Martin's Twitter coverage of the jury selection last week (@KMartinCourts). Thoughts on the jury being heavily weighted with men? 11 men - 3 women plus 2 female alternates.
Kevin noted at one point early on , 18 of 21 women had been rejected. Largely by Defense.

From my count (based on KM's tweets), only 9 were challenged by Ross, 8 of whom were female. Twenty-three were excused by the judge for other reasons (gender not always known). And the prosecution challenged 6 (gender not always known). For those 'challenges', they don't have to have a reason (for the first 24 challenges), so it could be they just didn't like the look on their face, expression, body language, gender, makeup, clothing selection, type of work they do, could be *anything*. It does however, *seem* that the defence may believe males might give the accused a fairer shake than women. jmo

 

[deugirtni]

Having participated in a trial thread where the reporters (several of them) were tweeting live, WS members would volunteer to post the tweets of a given reporter(s), to lessen duplication, which makes for easier reading. It worked out well, because it can get very unwieldy and time-consuming if a few members are pasting tweets from same reporters, or a mix of them. Just a suggestion for how this might also be done.

Just a heads up... the tweets are posted by the reporters as they happen in court, and so if/when a few tweets are pasted at a time into our thread here at WS, they are in reverse order (unless the poster spends the time to change their order). It's time consuming (for me at least) to put them in chonological order from top to bottom, and probably is also time consuming for others too (unless someone has discovered a way it can be done quickly somehow). That can also get confusing if members aren't posting in same chono order.

Are there any volunteers here who are available to copy and paste one or more of the reporters' tweets tomorrow?

 

[deugirtni]

Here are the tweets from Kevin Martin's coverage of DG's jury selection (these are in correct chronological order in accordance with how he posted them):

Douglas Garland Jury Selection
Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Tweeted by Kevin Martin, Calgary Sun

• Douglas Garland jury selection about I get underway. Garland, charged with three counts of first-degree murder, Just brought into court.
• More than 450 people jammed into three courtrooms for Douglas Garland jury selection.
• Justice Robert Hall now addressing the jury panel about their potential duties.
• Justice Robert Hall tells prospective jurors that jury selection in Douglas Garland trial could last into tomorrow.
• Justice Hall says 150 prospective jurors will be called and dismissed until tomorrow morning in case they are needed then.
• Justice Hall says 14 jurors and 2 alternates will be picked for Douglas Garland trial. 14 will hear the case.
• Justice Hall, who won't preside over trial, explains who is ineligible to serve on jury, including those with criminals records.
• Justice Robert Hall warns prospective jurors "you are not to research this case."
• Justice Hall explains trial will involve a "challenge for cause" process where prospective jurors asked questions about pre-trial publicity.
• Prospective jurors will be chosen 20 at a time and taken to a fourth courtroom to be asked about pre-trial publicity in Douglas Garland case
• Justice Hall orders publication ban on questions prospective jurors will be asked until a full jury can be selected.
• 150 prospective jurors have now been selected to go home and wait in reserve for whether they're needed tomorrow, or. It.
• Court has taken a brief adjournment to allow 150 prospective jurors to go home and allow others in overflow rooms to come to main courtroom.
• A little more than 300 people now jammed into main jury selection courtroom where 20 will be selected for the next step.
• Clerk now calling first 20 prospective jurors to commence the challenge for cause process in picking jury for Douglas Garland murder trial.
• Jury selection process in Garland case now moved to tiny courtroom where 20 prospective jurors will be asked about pre-trial publicity.
• Two "triers of fact" being sworn to commence "challenge for cause" process in Garland case.
• First of 14 jurors and two alternates has now been selected for Garland trial, a male.
• The first juror in Garland trial will now become one or of two triers to determine issue of pre-trial publicity on next prospective juror.
• Second juror, another man, has been selected to be on Garland jury. Still have to pick 12 more plus two alternates.
• The challenge for cause process is a tedious one, where each prospective jurors asked a brief series of pre-selected questions.
• Third juror, another man, picked to sit on Douglas Garland triple murder trial case.
• So far neither the Crown or defence has used one of their challenges to reject prospective jurors in the Douglas Garland case.
• Prospective juror #4 determined unqualified for jury duty by challenge for cause "triers." Count remains at three.
• Crown uses its first challenge to reject the next prospective juror in the Douglas Garland murder case.
• Defence counsel Kim Ross uses his first challenge to reject what would have been the first woman on the jury. Still at three men.
• Fourth juror, and fourth man, selected as member of the Douglas Garland triple murder trial jury.
• Juror #5 has been chosen for the Douglas Garland murder trial beginning Monday. All 5 so far are men.
• Jury count in Douglas Garland case now at six. All men.
• So far Crown and defence have each used just one of the 24 challenges they can use to block prospective jurors from hearing the Garland case
• Defence uses its second challenge (of 24) to reject second woman found eligible to sit on jury.
• Finally a woman has been selected for the Douglas Garland jury, making it six men and one woman. 14 and two alternates to be chosen.
• Juror #8 now selected, another male, bringing the Garland jury composition to one woman and seven men.
• Of first 20 prospective jurors selected for challenge for cause process in Garland case five excused by judge -- all women.
• Crown prosecutor Shane Parker uses his second challenge, a male, in the Douglas Garland jury selection process. Now taking short lunch break
• 20 more prospective jurors have now been chosen and the "challenge for cause" process in the Garland case about to resume.
• Didn't take long to add to the Garland jury. First of the next 20, another man, selected as juror #9. Now one woman, eight men.
• Jury selection process slowed by three consecutive prospective jurors being excused by the judge.
• Defence lawyer Kim Ross uses his third challenge to block a woman from sitting on the Garland jury. Lawyers not required to explain why.
• Justice Robert Hall has excused 10 prospective jurors so far, the latest the first man to get a judicial pass.
• Make that 11 now excused by Justice Hall after private conversations. All but one were women.
• Crown prosecutor Shane Parker uses his third challenge to block a male prospective juror from sitting on Garland trial. Nine selected so far
• Another prospective juror dismissed after private conversation with Justice Hall, this time a man, bringing total excused by judge to 12.
• 14 people in total have now gotten Justice Robert Hall to agree they should not have to sit on the Garland jury.
• Another one bites the dust. 15 people, including 13 women excused by the judge.
• Defence lawyer Kim Ross uses his fourth challenge to block another woman from being selected for the Garland jury.
• Crown uses fourth challenge to block a woman from being added to the Garland jury. Count stands at nine.
• "This juror's free to go on her honeymoon," Justice Robert Hall says, in excusing 16th prospective juror in Garland case.
• Defence challenges another prospective juror, this one happened to have been one of the two initial triers so her number was called twice.
• Defence lawyer Kim Ross uses his sixth challenge to block another woman from the jury. One left of second group of 20 called.
• Justice Robert Hall has now excused 18 people from jury duty, 16 of them women. Counts stands at one woman and eight men.
• Second round of 20 prospective jurors produces only one new jury member in Garland case. Now picking round three.
• A private conversation with Justice Hall leads to another woman being excused from jury duty. 17 of 19 let go by judge have been female.
• Justice Hall has now excused 20 people from jury duty as a man convinces him he should not be forced to sit on the Garland jury.
• Juror #10, and ninth man, picked to sit on Garland jury. Still four more to pick plus two alternates.
• Took more than an hour to go from nine jurors to 10. This could still take awhile.
• Defence lawyer Kim Ross uses his seventh challenge (of 24) to block another woman from sitting on the Garland case.
• Process slowing down again as Justice Hall excuses another woman from jury duty. That's 18 of 21 females given a pass.
• Took only nine minutes to select juror #11. Another man. Garland jury composition now one woman and 10 men.
• Justice Hall excuses a 22nd person from jury duty. The fourth man the judge has found has an excuse not to sit.
• Triple-murder suspect Douglas Garland has sat quietly in the prisoner's box through the proceeding, but appears very attentive.
• Crown prosecutor Shane Parker uses sixth challenge to block a male prospective juror from hearing the Garland case.
• Another woman excused by Justice Hall from jury duty in Garland case.
• Almost half of prospective jurors have been excused from jury duty. 23 of first 50.
• Juror #12, the second woman selected, has been chosen to sit on the Garland jury. 14 will hear the case and two alternates will be picked.
• Only 13 minutes to select 12th juror. This may end today after all. (Scheduled up to three days).
• Jury now up to 13 members as another woman chose to hear the Garland case. Now three women and 10 men.
• That was quick as it took only six minutes to pick back to back women to sit on the Garland murder jury.
• Defence lawyer Kim Ross uses his eighth challenge to reject another woman from sitting on Garland trial.
• Garland jury now set (for now), three women and 11 men. Two alternates will be picked in case any of those 14 are not able to go Monday.
• Alternate juror #1 selected, a woman. If one of the 14 jury members can't go Monday she'll step in. One more alternate to be picked.
• Defence lawyer Kim Ross challenges man as prospective alternate juror#2. All his other challenges were of women.
• Alternate juror #2 selected. Both alternates are women,so the composition of the three-woman, 11-man jury could change on Monday.
• Potential jurors were asked if they'd heard about the disappearance of Kathy and Alvin Liknes and their grandson and if that made them bias.
• Almost all potential jurors asked had heard about the Garland case, but none said that would impact their ability to be impartial.
• Odd fact, but not one that concerns Justice Hall. One juror and one alternate work in the same office.
• Barring someone backing out, a jury of 3 women and 11 men will begin hearing evidence Monday in the Douglas Garland triple-murder trial.

Douglas Garland triple-murder trial to begin Monday. Jury of 14 (with two alternates) selected