Decision reserved in Douglas Garland appeal

CALGARY – Alberta’s top court has reserved its decision in the case of a man who killed a Calgary couple and their young grandson six years ago.

Douglas Garland was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 75 years after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the slayings of Alvin and Kathy Liknes and five-year-old Nathan O’Brien.

The trial judge had ruled the automatic life sentence with a minimum of 25 years before parole eligibility needed to be increased because of aggravating factors, including Nathan’s young age and Garland’s lack of remorse.

RELATED: Garland gets life in prison, no chance of parole for 75 years for triple-murder

Prosecutors believe the three family members were attacked at the Liknes home before they were taken to Garland’s farm and killed.

Their bodies were never recovered, but some of their remains were found in ash from a burning barrel on the property.

Garland’s lawyers told the Alberta Court of Appeal that 75 years is vengeful and excessive and that he’ll be 129 years old before he can apply for freedom.

The Crown says it was a heinous crime and the trial judge sentenced Garland appropriately.

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