‘My gun went off,’ says ex-Mountie accused of murdering gay lover
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. A former Saskatchewan Mountie on trial for murder told a court Thursday he went to an isolated area to have sex with the man he’s accused of killing and doesn’t remember firing his gun.
Bernie Herman, 55, took the witness stand in his first-degree murder trial at Prince Albert Court of King’s Bench. He has pleaded not guilty in the 2021 shooting death of 26-year-old Braden Herman.
The two men are not related. The trial has heard that Braden Herman’s naked body was found in a park on the outskirts of Prince Albert, Sask. He had been shot in the chest.
Bernie Herman testified he picked up the younger man after finishing an RCMP training course earlier in the day.
He said Braden Herman directed him to drive to an area near Little Red River Park.
Court heard the two men had been in a sexual relationship since 2018. Bernie Herman testified that when they went to isolated areas, it was most likely for sex.
Bernie Herman testified they got out of the vehicle and Braden Herman undressed, pushed the officer against a door and grabbed for the officer’s genitals.
Bernie Herman said the younger man also grabbed him by the face, breaking a tooth. Braden Herman then backed off and said: “You better not be cheating on me,” Bernie Herman testified.
The former Mountie told court he was afraid and saw Braden Herman reach down for an object. “Boom!” Bernie Herman told court Thursday. “My gun went off.” He said he had no memory of drawing or shooting his gun.
The trial has heard the two men met on Facebook and Braden Herman moved into the veteran officer’s family home. The relationship was sexual, but Bernie Herman said it wasn’t always consensual. “When [Braden Herman] wanted to have sex and I would say no, that would set him off,” the former Mountie told court.
Defence lawyer Darren Kraushaar focused his questions to Bernie Herman on allegations that Braden Herman was unpredictable and violent.
Court was shown a series of photos that Bernie Herman said depicted physical injuries and damage to the family home caused by Braden Herman.
Messages and images from cellphones entered into the trial show there were also feelings of love and affection between the men. The messages also show the sexual relationship was putting a strain on the officer’s marriage.
Janice Herman told court she kicked the younger man out of the home in 2019. She testified this week that Braden Herman was violent and unpredictable.
Bernie Herman told court Thursday that he tried to end things with Braden Herman, but the younger man was blackmailing him. The two had exchanged nude photos, Bernie Herman said, and Braden Herman threatened to send them to his wife.
Court heard the officer called Braden Herman at least 19 times the day of the killing, and most went unanswered. At some point, the men agreed to meet up. They went to get coffee from a Tim Hortons and performed a sex act in a Dairy Queen drive-thru while they waited for a burger.
Then, Bernie Herman testified, they drove to the park.
Court has heard how, not long after, Bernie Herman sent a text to his wife saying he’d had enough and shot Braden Herman. The message said: “Just so you know your life has changed from here on. I just shot and killed him.”