Richard Oland's mistress, Diana Sedlacek, testifies about final texts to slain lover

RichardOland's mistress, Diana Sedlacek, says she tried to reach him repeatedly onthe evening ofJuly 6, 2011, the night Saint John police believe he was bludgeoned to death.

Sedlacek was growing impatient after several text messages and calls to him went unanswered, she testified Tuesday at the murder trial of Dennis Oland, 47, who is accused of killing his father.

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Sedlacek had been having a "romantic relationship"with the multi-millionaire for about eight years and she "absolutely" expected to hear back from him, she said.

At11:12 p.m., shetexted, "Pathetic!" And the following morning, when she still got no response, she texted again at 9:37 a.m., asking,"What the hell is going on with you?????????"

RichardOland'sbludgeoned body was discovered that morning, face down in a pool of blood in the office of his investment firm, Far End Corporation.

The 69-year-old prominent businessman, whose investments were worth about $36 million,had been killed "in a rage," according to the prosecution. He suffered 45 sharp and blunt force injuries to his head, neck and hands. No weapon was ever found.

DennisOland, who was the last known person to see his father alive during a meeting at his Canterbury Street office the nightbefore, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and is standing trial before a judge and jury in the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John.

The accused told police he was wearing a navy blazer when he visited his father around 5:30 p.m., but video surveillance of him earlier that day showedhe was a wearing a brown sports jacket.

Police later seized abrown sports jacket with a drycleaning tag still attached from his bedroom closet. The jackethad four areas of blood on it that matched his father's DNA profile, the court has heard.

During the trial, whichbegan on Sept. 16, the prosecution has suggested the accused's deteriorating financial situation may have been a possible motive, and that concern about the affair may have also been a factor.

The defence has previously suggested Richard Oland'sextramaritalaffair withSedlacekhadstarted to sour in the months leading up to his bludgeoningdeath.

Sedlacektestifiedshe was at home on Darlings Islandon the night in question at least a 30-minute drive away from the crime scene, according to Google Maps.

Her then-husband,JiriSedlacek, was also home that night, she told the packed courtroom, where sheriff's deputies had set up extra chairs to accommodate the unusually large crowd.

Sedlacek, who has since moved out of province, said her husband only became aware of her affair when police questioned him followingOland's death.

Husband says he didn't know about affair

JiriSedlacek, 87,testifiedhe firstlearned of the affair about 15 months later, when his lawyer shared a media report about it with him.

He said he had metOlandaround 2003 and had socialized with him and his wife, Connie,about eight to 10 times over the years.

Under direct examination by Crown prosecutor Patrick Wilbur, Sedlacek said he liked talking toOland, describing him as well-travelled and interesting.

"What, if anything did you have to do with the death of Richard Oland?" Wilbur asked.

"Nothing," replied Sedlacek, who retired in 1988 as director of corporateplanning forBata Shoes.

Defence lawyer Alan Gold argued itwas hard to believe Sedlacekdidn't know about the eight-yearaffairand suggested it was a good motive for murder.

Sedlacekadmitted he "probably" would have been "very upset" if he had known his wife of 24 years was cheating on him, but insisted he didn't even suspect.

He was questioned twice by Saint John police and ruled out as a suspect.

But Gold pointed out they never asked to see his bank or phone records, or the GPS for his car.

'Texting, calling, praying'

Lead Crown prosecutor P.J. Veniot asked DianaSedlacekabout her relationship with the older Oland.

Sedlacek, who was a Saint John real estate agent,said it started shortly after they met.They would get togetherabout three times a week, including "fairly frequently" at his uptown office.

"Often after churchon Sunday," she said."He was very interested in wanting to share his week with me, show me what he had done,ask me questions about what he should do."

They alsotravelled together "many times," and were planning a trip to Portland, Maine, just before his death, she said.

They had been texting earlier on July 6, 2011,about possible travel dates, according to five pages of text messages submitted into evidence.

Several of the messages, which Sedlacek still has on her cellphone, ended with theaffectionate sign-off:"Kisses."

I knew something horrible had happened. I didn't know what.- Diana Sedlacek, mistress

But by 6:44 p.m., she believed he had turned off his cellphone, which the court has heardwas the only item that was missing from the crime scene and was never recovered.

"I have a lot of men who would [love] 2 bwith me!!!!!" Sedlacek had texted from her Darlings Islandhome. "Answer the damnphone!I [will] call at your house."

The tone of her messages changed, however, when she still couldn't reach him later the next morning.She was "texting, calling, praying," she said.

After a hair appointment in uptown Saint John, shewalked toward Oland'soffice and saw uniformed police officers outside. She texted again, asking why police were there.

"I'm trying to reach everyone," she said, including Oland's secretary Maureen Adamson and his business associate Robert McFadden. "What has happened PLEASE I [love] you.God be with youMy Love - Praying praying."

Thenshe saw his car being towed away. "I knew something horrible had happened. I didn't know what."

Sedlacek said it was later that day when she found out Oland was dead. She told the court she could not recall who told her.

'Fatal attraction type of person'

The court has previously heard several members of the Oland family were aware of the affair.

Dennis Oland had described it as a "family concern"and had askedhis father's business associateto tell him that word ofthe affair was "getting out" and to "cool it."

During a voluntary police statement on July 7, when Oland was askedif he couldthink of anyone else who would "have an interest" in killing his father, his first response was,"Someone who wanted $20 out of a wallet to buy drugs? Um this is reaching, a vindictive ex-girlfriend?"

"The only person that comes to mind is this supposed girlfriend," said Oland,describing Sedlacek as being known as a Dragon Lady and"fatal attraction type of person."

The defence surprised the court bychoosingnot to cross-examineSedlacekon Tuesday afternoon.

The trial is on recess until Monday. JudgeJohn Walsh reassured the jury it is running on schedule and should wrap up by Dec. 18.