Oland murder blood stain analysis 'limited' by delay, expert testifies

A blood stain expert who was asked to assist the Saint John Police Force with the RichardOlandmurder investigation says his abilities were "limited" by the amount of time that had passed before he was called.

RCMP Sgt. Brian Wentzell says he arrived at the crime scene on July 11, 2011 four days after the prominent businessman's bludgeoned body was discovered lying face down in a pool of blood in his office on Canterbury Street.

• Live blog:Dennis Oland's second-degree murder trial: Oct. 15

By that time,Oland'sbody had been removed,several people had been in and out of the office, and some items had been moved, including Oland's desk, a chair, a backpack and some papers,saidWentzell, who is based in New Minas, N.S.

That put him at a disadvantage,he testified Thursday morning atDennisOland'ssecond-degree murder trial.

Bloodstain pattern analysis is best "when the body is still present and things are not disturbed," said Wentzell.

For example, there could be evidence on the body that's lost before the autopsy and there could be stains created if the blood is still wet when the body's removed.

"So you are limited in your interpretation."

There was also "a lot of alteration to the blood," due to the timeframe,said Wentzell. It was dry and "flaking upward," "different than if I had been there initially."

But he had photographs Sgt. Mark Smith, the head of the local forensic identification unit, had taken before the body was removed, and autopsy photosto work with and consider in his analysis, he said.

RichardOland,69, suffered 45 sharp and blunt force injuries to his head,neck and hands, the court has heard.

DennisOland, 47, who was the last known person to see his father alive during a meeting at his office the night before, has pleaded not guilty in his death.

No weapon was ever found.

The pool of blood aroundthe victim'sbody measured 85 centimetres by 100 centimetres, saidWentzell.

There were also "hundreds" of blood spatter stains radiating around thebody, including one that was more than three metres away.

Wentzellseemed totracemany of the blood stains to two main points oforigin the seating area in front ofOland'sdesk, and the area on the floor where his body was located.

The pathologist who performed the autopsy previously testified that Oland's injurieswould have been"rapidly fatal," and that many of them would have been inflicted afterOlandwas already lying on the ground, defenceless.

Wentzellalso found smear-like "swipe" and "wipe" transfer patterns to the left of Oland'supperbody, which had blood spatter on top them, indicating the spatter came laterpossibly castoff from an object being swung or blood being coughed, or expelled from the victim's mouth.

But if or how that might besignificant to the case has not yet been explained.

Blood patterns'predictable'

Wentzell said blood follows the laws of physicsand that its patterns are "predictable and reproducible."

Some of the things abloodstain pattern analyst may be able to determine include: the position of the victim andassailant, any movement of the bleeding victim,the minimal numberof blows involved, and the mechanism used.

They may also be able to confirm or refute the statements of witnesses or an accused, he said during a PowerPoint presentation to the courtabout the science behind bloodstain analysis.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice John Walsh deemed Wentzell an expert qualified to give opinionevidence about the size, shape, location and distribution patterns of blood stains and the interpretation of the physical events that cause them.

Wentzell said he drove to Saint John on July 11, arriving just before noon. Hehada brief meeting at police headquarters with forensicsSgt. Mark Smith, Deputy Chief Glen McCloskey and Sgt. David Brooker of the major crime unit, to discussthe scene and Oland's injuries.

He and Smith entered the crime scene around 1:40 p.m., both wearingprotective gear, including white suits, gloves and booties, to prevent any contamination of the scene.

After an initial walk through, Wentzell took some photographs, 123 of whichwere submitted into evidence.

Before the photoswere displayed on a large monitor in the courtroom, the judgeadvised citizens theywould be graphic and might be disturbing to some people.

Wentzell will be back on the stand on Friday at 9:30 a.m. when the trial resumes.

The trial, which is in its fifth week,is scheduled to continue until Dec. 18.