‘Why would I hurt her?’ accused asks

Man on trial for allegedly killing ex-girlfriend, setting her on fire

The man accused of shooting and burning his ex-girlfriend in her car on a westend street denied knowing anything about her death in a police interview shown Monday in court.

Devon Hugh Saunders, 46, is charged with firstdegree murder in the death of 26-year-old nurse Shernell Sharon Pierre. She was killed March 12, 2008.

Court was shown footage of a 70-minute police interview between homicide Det. Rob Mills and Saunders. The interview took place the day after Pierre was killed. The accused repeatedly told Mills he knew nothing about Pierre’s death and had nothing to hide.

“Everybody’s pointing fingers at me. I’m the ex-boyfriend. And I’ll tell you, time and time again, Shernell is a nice girl,” Saunders said. “Why would I hurt her? What would that accomplish?”

Saunders said in the interview he was hurt when the couple ended their relationship. He said they had texted in January, but hadn’t spoken since.

The Crown has argued Pierre left the Misericordia Hospital, where she worked, and found Saunders waiting for her that night. The Crown alleges they drove south on 170th Street in her car, a few blocks from West Edmonton Mall.

The Crown alleges Saunders then shot Pierre in the back of the head, doused her car in gasoline, lit it on fire and walked away.

Court was shown graphic photos Monday of fresh blood at the back of Pierre’s charred head.

Insp. Dennis Storey, a detective at the time of the murder, testified police placed Saunders under surveillance and witnessed him drop a black leather glove into a trash bin outside a Rona store. Investigators determined the glove had gunshot residue on it, court heard earlier.

Storey also showed security footage from West Edmonton Mall and Palace Casino of a man he said is Saunders walking into the mall with a piece of clothing in his hand. Shortly after, Storey said the security footage shows the same man walking out of the mall without the clothing.

Saunders was arrested and charged in March 2012. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. The trial continues Tuesday.

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