Blood stains tell story of attack on three victims: forensic expert
CALGARY — A woman and her grandson were attacked in a spare bedroom where she was hit with a blunt instrument that caused a significant impact and loss of blood, a murder trial was told Wednesday.
“There was at least one impact with a liquid blood source of Kathryn Liknes. It’s my opinion that Kathryn was on the floor at the time of impact when these stains were made,” a blood pattern expert testified at Douglas Garland’s trial.
“It may have been an object that was used, it could have been a hand or foot,” acting Staff Sgt. Jodi Arns said. “I can’t tell you what object would have impacted her at the time. I can just tell you there was a significant impact to create the stains that were there.”
Garland, 57, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the disappearance of Alvin and Kathy Liknes and their five-year-old grandson Nathan O’Brien. The three vanished from the couple’s Calgary home in June 2014 after an estate sale. Nathan was staying on a sleepover.