I think it is a error in judgement for the prosecution to label the motive a "petty" grudge.
Prosecutors speak for the people, are to remain neutral, and are to present the facts. The use of the term "petty" implies a judgement and opinion of the grudge, which I think is entirely unprofessional.
We know that Garland and Liknes were working on a patent, and that Garland contributed to that patent. We know that Garland had completed his work on the patent because the patent was filed. We know that Liknes fired Garland from his work on the patent because Liknes had a vehicle breakdown, and Garland didn't answer the phone during that vehicle problem.
It is not legitimate to fire Garland on those grounds. Liknes then went on to file the patent, omitting Garland's name. That is completely unreasonable, and gives me the impression that Liknes took advantage of Garland in that situation. I think that Garland's grudge against Liknes was legitimate and the prosecution should not suggest that unethical work practices are "petty".
Garland's actions are unreasonable, but the grudge is not petty.
One of the reporters tweeting yesterday reported more of what was being said in the courtroom when Allen was testifying. It seems the L family has also made light of the pump and the patent issue, saying that DG had only worked on the first version, and making it sound as if DG's contribution was minimal and unimportant.
It sounds like there may have been subsequent versions which may, or may not, have resulted in more success? Who knows if whatever role DG played in the 'first version' continued to play a role in all or some of the subsequent versions, and whether that role should have rightfully been acknowledged, and whether or not any of those subsequent versions brought revenues?
I have no idea how pumps and patents work, is it kind of like..... if a restaurant hires a chef, do the chef's recipes that he creates as an 'employee' of the restaurant, belong to him, or to the restaurant? If the chef is an independent contractor, does that get treated the same way? If the recipe won an award, would the credit go to both the restaurant and the chef or only to the restaurant/owner? What was the 'agreement' between the 2 men?
I believe I read in one place that DG 'worked for Alvin', but in another, I believe I read that he was hired as a contractor. Does that make a difference in how the patent should have been treated, if DG was operating as an independent business of his own while he worked with Alvin on the pump for his business? If a book has one author, but with a contribution by another author, should both names be acknowledged? What if author#2 was employed by author#1 to DO that writing? Legal matters... too bad he didn't resolve by taking the matter to civil court? (Although, if because they were introduced through family and may have operated together on a more casual basis, they hadn't bothered to make an agreement in writing as to the specifics, DG would have been out of luck, moo)
In any case, it certainly doesn't justify what DG did. It possibly CAN however, speak to the potential festering of a grudge that DG may have held in wanting to get revenge against AL for perceived injustices as he commenced his retirement between his summer and winter homes. The method, and the madness, and the taking of additional, innocent, victims are what sets this crime apart. (moo)
Just as an aside, if DG was working as an independent contractor (his own business), working on a pump... it does seem strange for AL to 'fire' him for not dropping everything to deal with his vehicle breakdown issues?
Read bottom up please!!! Forgot to mention!!
Tweets from Lucie Edwardson
@MetroLucie
Reporter/Photog @metrocalgary
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(bbm)
- The case is adjourned for today and will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says he doesn't think #Garland is confrontational "if anything he is sneaky," he said. #yyc
- Allen said in 2010 #Garland showed him a print out of information about his Dad. "He was trying to drum up bad feelings about dad"
- Allen said Alvin visited the #Garland farm with him and without him. Not sure how many times he was there w/o him or what happened then.#yyc
- Allen said part of the pump system not needed for anything else was left on the #Garland farm. #yyc
- Allen says he didn't know of any aggression or threats between Alvin and #Garland. Said Doug seemed non-confrontational to him. #yyc
- Allen says Kathy and his father were planning to move to Evansburg..couldn't afford to live in Calgary anymore. #yyc #Garland
- Allen says he hasn't been given the opportunity to review the transcript from that interview prior to today. #Garland #yyc
- Defence asks about a police interview with Allen on July 4 at Westwinds. Allen says he remembers that interview and had many others after.
- Crown has finished questioning Allen Liknes, the defence is now beginning their cross-examination. #Garland #yyc
- Allen isn;t sure how many patents were filed by his father. Said the pump wasn't the big deal but their method. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said latest version of pump "not the same at all." Said #Garland only worked on controls of earliest version of pump. #yyc
- Says these diagrams show an early version of "version 1" of the pump, that then went through many revisions. #Garland #yyc
- Diagrams on the patent should a "rudimentary controller and basic pump" according to Allen. #garland #yyc
- This pump patent has been marked as an exhibit (#3). #Garland #yyc
- Allen is now being shown the "pump patent" by the courtroom clerk. Same information provided to #Garland. #yyc
- Allen is now looking at photos of the "hot house" and "burn barrels." Said last time he was in there was a couple of years before. #yyc
- When asked if Alvin had ever been to the shop on #Garland farm, Allen said he might have back in 2007. #yyc
- Allen is now looking at photos of "the shop" at the #Garland farm. Says Doug spent time taking things apart .. "junk." #yyc
- The jurors have also been provided these photos to follow along with. #Garland #yyc
- All photos being looked at by Crown, Allen and defence are also being supplied to #Garland who is looking over them as crown speaks of them.
- Allen is now looking over an email capture and photograph his son took of #Garland truck the he forwarded to police. #yyc
- After seeing a more clear photo, that showed a big rust spot on the truck, Allen said he forwarded to police with #Garland's name. #yyc
- Alle never considered #Garland a suspect, especially because the pick-up truck he drove was "really ******" and not in good condition. #yyc
- Allen said he didn't think of #Garland as a suspect at first, and first heard the vehicle described as a "well maintained F150"
- Allen said he participated in the search for his father, his step-mother and Nathan. Said they even contacted psychics. #Garland #yyc
- When Allen heard of the disappearances he drove down from Evansburg to Calgary. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said he learned of his father, kathy and Nathan's disappearance through phone calls from Jennifer O'Brien and an uncle. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says #Garland stayed away from him when he visited the farm following the falling out in 2010. "he purposely avoided me." #yyc
- "he always had projects going he would never finished. He had projects all over the farm," said Allen of #Garland, adding he lived there.
- "There is no reason why Nathan would ever visit the farm," said Allen. #Garland #yyc
- Alvin had been to the #Garland farm, according to Allen, in 2006-2007 while working on the pump. #yyc
- As far as Allen knows, #Garland and Alvin Liknes didn't see each other or speak between 2007 and 2014. #yyc
- Between 2007-2010 Allen and #Garland had somewhat of a relationship, but when Doug brought up being let go, Allen said they stopped talking.
- By November 2007 "he had enough of him at that point" Allen said about Alvin's feelings towards #Garland. #yyc
- Allen says #Garland only worked on the controller aspect of the pump. #yyc
- Already at this point in 2006-2007 Allen says the pump had become "uneconomical." #Garland #yyc
- #Garland was let go by Alvin as contractor for their company when Allen says Doug ignored a call for help from Alvin. #yyc
- Allen says relationship changed after Alvin let #Garland go for not helping with a project. "He asked him for help and he didn't help him."
- At first, Allen says #Garland and Alvin had a "good working relationship" that lasted about a year. (2006-2007) #yyc
- Allen says #Garland didn't work, drove a borrowed green pick-up truck. Says he introduced Doug to his father Allen. #yyc
- #Garand trial back in session. Allen Liknes is now describing how he knows Douglas Garland and what he knows about him. #yyc
- Photo taken of Nathan O'Brien, Kathy Liknes and Max O'Brien day before Nathan and Kathy disappeared. #garland #yyc
- Court is now taking an afternoon break. #Garland #yyc
- The company had little in terms of assets: a truck, supplies to build pumps. #Garland #yyc
- The company the Liknes' were using to develop the pump folded in 2010 according to Allen. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says #Garland "did some wiring" on the pump in 2006-2007. Said no one owned rights to pump in 2014. #yyc
- Allen says Dougland #Garland worked on the 1st version of the pump. #yyc
- In crown opening statement they claim this pump is the centre of the grudge held by #Garland against Liknes. #yyc
- Allen said he and his father had patented the first version of the pump. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said he + Alvin were trying to sell the pump to other companies, using coil tubing "That was going to be our advantage" #Garland
- Allen is now describing the pump he worked on his with his dad (between 2003 and 2007). A natural gas positive displacement pump. #Garland
- Nathan and Alvin had an "excellent" relationship. "very playful," according to Allen. #Garland #yyc
- "they were very optimistic about the future," Allen said of Kathy and Alvin. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said Alvin and Kathy liked to bowl together and vacation in Mexico. #Garland #yyc
- Allen describes Kathy Liknes as "awesome," and had a loving relationship with his dad. #Garland #yyc
- Like Jennifer O'Brien said, Allen also has not heard or seen from his parents or Nathan. #Garland #yyc
- The longest Allen said he ever went without speaking with his father was 2 months when he lived in Montana. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says his father had no criminal record and no social media accounts. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says his father kept the balcony window open and had a code lock on the side door- which he had the combination for. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says he tried calling his father "quite a few times," but had no answer after June 30, 2014. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said his father planned on living at his brother's place in Evansburg. He had also purchased property in Mexico. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said Alvin was an "excellent" grandfather. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said his father was close to his whole family, particularly his brother Allen Joseph (Liknes) and his children. #Garland #yyc
- Parker asked if there was any reason for his father to wear adult diapers, which Allen replies no to. #Garland #yyc
- Allen said his father told him he was relieved to be retiring and moving. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says his father was physically fit man who worked out, but a sore knee prevented him from playing sports. #Garland #yyc
- "He was in the middle of the move when he was murdered," said Allen. #Garland #yyc
- Allen says his father and Kathy planned on retiring to Evansberg, pursuing some business ventures, wintering at a condo in Mexico. #Garland
- Allen said he last spoke with his father the Saturday before he went missing. Said he'd recently retired from oil and gas. #Garland #yyc
- Allen describes his father Alvin as "a great man." #Garland #yyc
- Crown Shane Parker is questioning Allen Liknes who is Alvin Liknes' son and Douglas #Garland brother-in-law (common law to Patty Garland).
- Allen Liknes is now being sworn in. #Garland #yyc
