The man accused of killing a five-year-old Calgary boy and his grandparents in June 2014 was in court on Thursday for a hearing to determine the admissibility of evidence in his upcoming trial.
Douglas Garland is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Nathan O’Brien and Alvin and Kathy Liknes over two years ago.
The trio was reported missing after Nathan’s mother went to pick him up from a weekend sleepover at the Liknes’ Parkhill residence and found no one at home.
An exhaustive search was launched that led police to an acreage near Airdrie, owned by Garland’s parents.
In July 2014, Garland was arrested and charged in connection to the death of the three Calgarians even though their bodies were not found.
Voir dire began in the case on Thursday to determine the admissibility of certain evidence in the trial but a publication ban prevents the reporting of testimony or evidence presented at the hearing.
Garland's trial will begin on January 16, 2017 and is expected to last about five weeks.
