logo
‘My purpose was to survive': Bradford man accused of murder tells jury

‘My purpose was to survive': Bradford man accused of murder tells jury

CTV News15 hours ago

Brandon Aaron, 23, denied repeated suggestions by the Crown he was the aggressor when violence broke out between Aaron and David Goddard, 59, whom police described as a hero who stepped in to help Aaron's former girlfriend after she'd been assaulted by Aaron along Holland Street West September 4, 2022.
The Bradford, Ont. man accused of murder in the stabbing of a Good Samaritan three years ago completed his testimony saying he did not attack the man prior to killing him.
Brandon Aaron, 23, denied repeated suggestions by the Crown he was the aggressor when violence broke out between Aaron and David Goddard, 59, whom police described as a hero who stepped in to help Aaron's former girlfriend after she'd been assaulted by Aaron along Holland Street West September 4, 2022.
Aaron was on the witness stand Thursday and Friday, where he disagreed with Crown Attorney Elizabeth Stokes who suggested Aaron became enraged when Good Samaritan David Goddard intervened, and Aaron stabbed Goddard 20 times along the side of the road.
David Goddard
Cameron David Goddard, 59, is identified as the victim of a homicide on Sept. 4, 2022, in Bradford, Ont. (Supplied)
The court heard Goddard bled profusely and died on scene.
'In order to inflict that damage, you stabbed him as hard as you could,' said Stokes.
'I stabbed him as hard as I needed to' replied Aaron 'My purpose was to survive.'
The Crown suggested Aaron, already with a knife in hand, got angry when Goddard told him to leave the young woman alone and walk the other way after the young woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban as she was 17 at the time, asked Goddard to walk her home.
Aaron testified he was attacked by Goddard, who pushed, punched and choked him after he was knocked on his back on the grass.
'You didn't stab him because you were being choked,' the Crown suggested to Aaron, 'You stabbed him because he got between you and your girlfriend,' she said.
Brandon Aaron,
Brandon Aaron, 23, is accused of murder in the death of a man police described as a Good Samaritan who intervened when investigators said Aaron was assaulting the young woman in the early morning hours of September 4, 2022. (Court Exhibit)
'He upset you by trying to take her away from you and when he stepped up to you, you went to stab him,' she told Aaron.
'I did not attack him' Aaron responded.
The accused said he could not remember the sequence of events or how many times he stabbed Goddard after telling the court he was on his back, reached for his knife from his side bag and stabbed the stranger to break free.
The Crown called Aaron's version of events 'impossible' and told Aaron he was aware of how seriously he had wounded the man.
'You do remember exactly where you stabbed him and you're claiming not to remember because it's very bad for you,' said Stokes.
Aaron testified seeing Goddard standing upright despite being stabbed several times before he left the scene and walked home through a field to avoid being seen.
'Because you knew that you had stabbed that person over and over,' the Crown told Aaron. 'And that person was probably dead.'
Aaron denied becoming increasingly angry with his girlfriend or Goddard when he stepped in. Aaron testified he simply wanted to ensure she got home safely that night.
Brandon Aaron
Brandon Aaron, 23, denied repeated suggestions by the Crown he was the aggressor when violence broke out between Aaron and David Goddard, 59, whom police described as a hero who stepped in to help Aaron's former girlfriend after she'd been assaulted by Aaron along Holland Street West September 4, 2022.
'I don't know how she got hurt,' he told the court. He remembered she had hurt her wrist or arm but was not clear on what the injury was or how it happened. Instead, Aaron told the jury he was the one assaulted by his girlfriend with a flashlight she had borrowed from a nearby gas station to help her find her missing cell phone she believed Aaron lost earlier that night.
Both Aaron and his former girlfriend said they were intoxicated after a night out drinking and partying.
Hours after the incident police interviewed the young woman. She told investigators Aaron dragged her by her hair and struck her repeatedly with the flashlight, breaking her forearm. She changed her story during trial when she testified she broke her forearm picking herself up off the ground during an argument with Aaron. She had previously told police Aaron held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.
Aaron admitted to changing his clothes when he got home. He then conceded he sent several text messages on Instagram to the young woman reciting a version of events that included Aaron telling her he was going to tell police 'It was self defense.'
'I'm going to be gone for a very long time,' one message read. 'I don't care that you told on me.'
Aaron was convicted of violating his court-imposed non-communication order with his former girlfriend. He admitted to calling and emailing her for months.
The young woman's mother described the relationship between her daughter and Aaron as 'toxic' and 'abusive.'
The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Thursday following instructions from Justice Jill Cameron.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Police look for suspect in stabbing incident
Police look for suspect in stabbing incident

CTV News

time43 minutes ago

  • CTV News

Police look for suspect in stabbing incident

Windsor Police are on the lookout for a male suspect following an early morning stabbing incident on June 6. At approximately 1 p.m., police were called to Wyandotte Street West and Church Street where they found a 24-year-old male with two stab wounds to the body and another 24-year-old male with a facial wound. The third male on the scene was unharmed. After investigating, police found a verbal altercation occurred between the group of three males and the unknown suspect. The suspect allegedly sprayed the group with an unknown noxious substance, stabbed one male, assaulted the other and fled the scene. The group pursued him to the 300 block of Wyandotte, then fled west through Brucke Park. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties with shoulder-length curly hair, wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans. Both males were brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The case remains under investigation.

Montreal police searching for missing man, 72, with cognitive impairment
Montreal police searching for missing man, 72, with cognitive impairment

CBC

timean hour ago

  • CBC

Montreal police searching for missing man, 72, with cognitive impairment

Montreal police are asking the public for help locating a 72-year-old man with cognitive impairment who has difficulty navigating. Richard Bastien is described as white, five feet 11 inches tall and 170 pounds. He has brown eyes and grey hair. He speaks both English and French. Bastien was last seen Friday afternoon at around 2 p.m. at his residence in the Sud-Ouest. He mainly uses a wheelchair or walks to get around, police say. Bastien doesn't have access to his medication, and investigators are concerned for his health and safety. He was last seen wearing black pants and a blue, plaid shirt.

Police searching for man who allegedly threatened stranger with gun in North York
Police searching for man who allegedly threatened stranger with gun in North York

CTV News

time2 hours ago

  • CTV News

Police searching for man who allegedly threatened stranger with gun in North York

The suspect Toronto police say is wanted for allegedly threatening a stranger with gun in North York on Thursday June 5, 2025 (TPS photos). Toronto police are searching for a man who they say allegedly threatened a stranger with a gun in North York's Flemingdon Park area Thursday afternoon. Officers say they were called to the St. Dennis Drive and Deauville Lane area at around 4:30 p.m. for reports of a person with a firearm. It's alleged that the suspect approached the victim and began a conversation before revealing what appeared to be a firearm tucked in his waistband and threatening to shoot. TPS suspect The second image Toronto police have released of a man who they say is wanted for threatening someone with a gun in North York on Thursday June 5, 2025 (TPS photos). 'The suspect then fled the area and was last seen travelling northbound on Deauville Lane on foot,' police wrote in Saturday's news release. Officials also say that they believe the suspect and victim did not know each other. The suspect is described as a man between 20 and 25 years old, approximately five-foot-eight with a medium build. Police say 'he was wearing a black facemask, black swaeter, blue/black pants and black shoes." Police are urging the public not to approach the man if spotted, and are asking anyone with information to come forward or call 911 immediately if seen.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store