SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- The judge presiding over the murder case against Dennis Oland says up to 1,500 people may be called for jury selection when the trial begins later this year.
Judge John Walsh of the Court of Queen's Bench in New Brunswick has set aside three months for the trial of Oland, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his father Richard.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 and the trial will run from Sept. 16 until Dec. 18.
In December, a provincial court judge ordered Dennis Oland to stand trial following a preliminary inquiry that lasted 37 days and heard from 42 witnesses.
At the time, family members issued a statement saying they know Dennis is innocent and were stunned that the case would go to trial.
Richard Oland was an officer of the Order of Canada and part of the well-known Maritime family that owns Moosehead Breweries.
The 69-year-old businessman was found dead in his office in Saint John on July 7, 2011.
Saint John police Chief Bill Reid said in November 2013 that Richard Oland died after repeated blows, but he wouldn't elaborate.
