Douglas Garland - Canadian Press file photo

By Charles Lefebvre

Douglas Garland denied new trial by Alberta Court of Appeal

Dec 6, 2019 | 11:07 AM

*Warning: This story contains material some readers may find disturbing. Discretion is advised.

CALGARY, AB — A man convicted of killing a Calgary couple and their grandson had his appeal dismissed by Alberta’s top court.

Douglas Garland was convicted in 2017 of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Alvin and Kathy Liknes and their five-year-old grandson Nathan O’Brien in 2014.

The couple and the child vanished in June 2014 following an estate sale at the Liknes’ home. Nathan was there for a sleep over. Nathan’s mother went to pick him up the next morning and saw blood and signs of a struggle, prompting a police search.

Their bodies were never recovered, but bone fragments, teeth and burned flesh was found on Garland’s property.

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Garland’s lawyer argued during the appeal that the trial judge should not have allowed evidence seized from Garland’s property, saying police didn’t have enough evidence to obtain a search warrant.

Garland is currently serving a life sentence with no chance for parole for 75 years.

-With Files from The Canadian Press