Scion of a wealthy Canadian beer family gets life for killing father

The scion of a wealthy Canadian beer family was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for murdering his father, following a long and sensational trial in New Brunswick province.

But he may seek parole after 10 years behind bars.

Dennis Oland, 47, was found guilty in December of second-degree murder against his father, Richard Oland, who was part of the locally prominent family that owns Moosehead Breweries.

The 69-year-old father was found dead in a pool of blood in his office on July 7, 2011. His body bore numerous stab and blunt-force wounds to the head, neck and hands. Police said his son was the last person to see him alive.

Dennis Oland pleaded not guilty at trial and continues to deny involvement in the killing.

In arguing its case, the prosecution pointed to the younger Oland's financial problems, suggesting that he had grown violent when his father refused a demand for money.

It argued that a brown jacket belonging to Dennis Oland bore small blood splatters and traces of DNA that experts said almost surely came from his father.

Moosehead is Canada's oldest independent brewery, based in Saint John.