Deceased/Not Found Canada - Alvin, 66, & Kathy Liknes, 53, Nathan O'Brien, 5, Calgary, 30 Jun 2014 - #28

[Spellbound]

Nancy Hixt‏ @NancyHixt
[h=1]BREAKING: jury ends deliberations for the night in triple murder trial of Douglas #Garland.[/h]

Good night.

 

[Bravo]

And there we have it. Thanks lynck. See ya's tomorrow. Sleep well all.

 

[Stargazer42]

In late January/early February 2016, I received a jury summons in Calgary. I was terrified of being chosen for a case that involved child abuse. All the summons said was that more than one jury could be chosen that day, and gave a time where we were to call the court and confirm that the jury summons was still valid and the case(s) had not been rescheduled/closed/etc. I had to fill out and return a form, with information such as my occupation.

I was really impressed with what a well oiled machine jury selection was. The court staff had clearly been doing it a long time and knew the answer to every possible question. There was a video (with '80's hair and fashion) that walked us through the process from selection to end.

We had to bring our jury summons with us. On the summons was a code unique to each person. The court clerk did roll call by calling out the codes, and not our names. There were about 20 who didn't show up.

A Justice of the Peace presided over jury selection although he wasn't going to be the one overseeing the court session. The 20 people who didn't show up had their names added to the next pool of potential jurors to receive summons. The judge was professional but approachable and said we were serving our city just by showing up. He told us the scheduled court dates and when the jury would be expected to be in court. Ruh roh. I had a final exam on one of the scheduled court dates.

We were also told the names of the defendants (they were in the courtoom, one with a court-supplied translator), and all potential witnesses in case we knew any of them (several police officers). We were told that we would have a chance to ask to be excused from consideration.

The case turned out to be a marijuana grow-op. I feel I would have been able to be neutral - don't smoke it, but don't have a problem with other people doing it.

People were called up by randomly drawn codes, in groups of 4 or so. Again, the potential jurors' names weren't read out loud.

It became clear that the defense lawyers were choosing younger men for the jury so I figured I wasn't going to be chosen, being female and approaching vintage. My number got called and I went up front. Thanks to the well oiled machine, I knew I had a chance to approach the judge before the lawyers considered me as a candidate. I approached the judge, his microphone was off for privacy. I explained that I had an exam on one of the scheduled court dates and I would like to be excused. I had a print out of the exam details with me but the judge didn't ask for any proof, he excused me. I told the clerk that I had been excused, then I had to hang out in the courtroom while the rest of the jury was picked. I had brought a book which kept me entertained.

The lawyers asked far fewer questions than they do on TV. (grin). They asked questions based on the occupations listed on the reply forms, like what field the potential was working in. Only a certain number of potential jurors could be dismissed, the lawyers could not have gone through the entire jury pool looking for just the right juror. Once the defense lawyers started running out of dismissals, they began to accept some older men. By the time the selection was done, there was one young woman on the jury.

Now had I been summoned for something like this trial ... my stomach turns at the thought. It's 9 o'clock in Calgary now, I hope the jurors are able to get a good night's sleep for clear and educated decisions tomorrow.

 

[JadeSLeuth]

I'd just like to take a moment to give you a huge personal thank you. Not only for the tweets (you're thanked a lot for that) but because of your pleasant nature and the way that you make us all feel welcome. We're all human, we're going to disagree and have different interpretations but you have this aura to you that is very graceful and so even in those disagreeing moments your true self shines through. You're respectful and tactful, a great example for us all. I can tell you're a great person and I want you to know it goes noticed. Thank you.

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Aweeeee! What a kind post, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! 😁 What a great group this is [emoji7]

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[JadeSLeuth]

:yeahthat: excellent post! Thank you JadeSLeuth, again and again. (you do know you have set yourself up to be called on for more trial tweets next time, right? :giggle



:saythat: You, and all your comrades, should be proud! Take a bow. neighbors [emoji144]

Haha well as long as I am part of "laid off Calgary", I'm available!

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[JadeSLeuth]

Good night all! We'll be here tomorrow for the verdict and if it doesn't come tomorrow, we'll be here the next day too!

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[wswallace1]

As much as I would have liked a verdict tonight, I do think it's for the better to wait until tomorrow. Most importantly the family will have had some sleep, secondly importantly the jury will have had some sleep, and thirdly importantly we will have had some sleep! The verdict will be emotional enough in the light of a new day. I am optimistic that we will have good news then. Good night fellow sentries!


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[otto]

Thanks JadeSLeuth I've been here since thread 1, hoping for the best outcome at first and then of course, sharing in the sadness, disbelief, anger. Not imagining that it would take almost 3 years to find out that this wasn't some 'petty' argument boiled over and covered up but, a long seethed revenge, meticulously planned and almost expertly executed.

You Canadians can be very, VERY proud of your law enforcement, from every scientist, to wet nose and wagging tail and all those hard working officers in between.
Whatever the outcome, they've done Nathan, Alvin and Kathy proud.

Did you know that a lot of Canadian police officers are hired from the UK?

 

[naz]

Did you know that a lot of Canadian police officers are hired from the UK?

Yes, I have noticed this, in the news media too .

 

[CentralAlberta]

LOL that's just what happens..........During "That Florida Trial" Uggg! there was much discussion on how to clean your house in a jiff and have a hot meal on the table. I was not answering the phone and once I dove on the floor as my Sister In Law was coming up to our front door LOL. She talks too much about nothing LOL

Yea, when we had company I would sneak into the bathroom to get caught up!

 

[naz]

When Judge Gates mentioned the chloroform, it brought me back to the kitchen when DG (I assume) tried to clean up the floor.. It did not make sense.. now I'm wondering if that what what spilled on the floor. Chloroform smell last a long time but can disolve in water fairly rapidly.

 

[swedie]

They all appeal. Nothing to lose when you are spending the rest of your life in prison. I wonder if he has his own money or if it was all his parents. I can't see his parents financially supporting him through this trial. I remember reading early on that after they testified his parents were not at court.

I am doubting his parents paid for his defense when he's entitled to legal aid if he can't afford to hire a lawyer himself. I'm sure they handed off a lot of money over the years to support this . They may still love him but are not required to pay for him anymore. MOO.

 

[ilovepierre]

I missed that all 3 victims were naked in the aerial photos. 😦

It's possible they (AL and KL) were wearing adult diapers.

 

[Deleted member 192280]

Wonder how close DG's daily contact was with his parents. They lived together, ate together, but were they aware of him dressed in women's clothing, wig, etc.?

I'm also curious to know whether there was any thing between him and Matthew Hartley. Was his "falling behind the wheel" causing a car accident a complete like or related to the car accident that killed Matthew Hartley?

 

[Cherchri]

We are now on verdict watch in the case against Douglas Garland who is accused in the murders of Kathy and Alvin Liknes and their grandson, Nathan O'Brien.

Juror deliberations commenced at 5:13 pm Mountain Time in Alberta, Canada.

Please remember The Rules we have in place at Websleuths.

Verdict Watch is a very tense waiting period and when a verdict is announced, emotions can be heightened, so please be aware of this and keep yourselves in check and post respectfully, with decorum, or take a break until you've calmed down.

The hearts of many thousands have been with the Liknes and O'Brien families throughout this tragedy, and will continue to be with them in the years ahead. Kathy, Alvin, and little Nathan will not be forgotten, and may the family forever find comfort in the beautiful memories they have of their loved ones.

Kathy and Alvin Liknes, and their grandson Nathan O'Brien

(pic from CBC news files found here)



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A beautiful, sincere, intro to this thread - thank you

 

[Cherchri]

Nancy HixtVerified account ‏@NancyHixt 27s28 seconds ago
More
BREAKING: jury ends deliberations for the night in triple murder trial of Douglas #Garland.

Kevin MartinVerified account ‏@KMartinCourts 1m1 minute ago
More
No verdict tonight. Jury has left the courthouse for a city hotel. #Garland

Here is Nancy teeting away - approx 5:40 pm today

 

[Cherchri]

Sooo I ate ALL the mini eggs I bought as part of my fiancés v-day gift. Now I shall move on to the jolly ranchers. [emoji16] wonder what hotel the jury stays at? Do they have guards or security?


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I had to attend a function this evening but kept checking in - nearly fell off my chair when I read this! LOL I have the identical coping mechanism

 

[mrazda71]

Well I am a little blurry eyed this morning! Managed to stay awake til 3am and peered at my phone screen see what news as soon as my 6.30 alarm went off.

Can't say I'm too concerned that no verdict yet. I feel like the jury may find it slightly more difficult (playing it by the book) to decide on 1st or 2nd degree in relation to Nathan.
Do you have a minimum deliberation time in Canada?

The 'what the jury didn't hear' stuff wasn't too shocking to me to be honest though, hearing that Mrs Garland, Allan Liknes and even Jen O'brien had begged Garland to tell them where Nathan was and he responded 'I'm tired' stuck in my throat ...

 

[Niner]

I guess I have to wait until 6pm MY time here until the jury gets back to deliberations.... it's only 1:30pm here now.

:waiting:

 

[JadeSLeuth]

I guess I have to wait until 6pm MY time here until the jury gets back to deliberations.... it's only 1:30pm here now.

:waiting:

Four hours (from now) until the jury begins again. Now, I must do EVERYthing that I need to do today in the next four hours.... what time does the grocery store open!!