Ex-Mountie facing first-degree murder charge pleads not guilty

A former Saskatchewan Mountie has entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.

Bernie Herman, 53, was not present when the matter was discussed Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for the week of Dec. 13. The purpose of the hearing is to weigh the Crown’s evidence and determine if there is enough to warrant a trial.

On the evening of May 11, police were called to a wooded area south of Little Red River Park. There, they found the body of 26-year-old Braden Herman.

Police have previously confirmed that while the victim and the accused share the same last name, they are not related. Family members have described the relationship as one time comparable between a father and son, but also mentioned the two men had a falling out.

Bernie Herman, who had nearly 30 years experience with the RCMP, formally resigned on May 19 and the notice took effect on June 1. Prior to his arrest, he had been working with the traffic services division at the Prince Albert RCMP detachment.

While Herman was not on duty at the time of the incident, Prince Albert Police Service Insp. Craig Mushka told reporters he left work in full uniform with his duty belt on the day it occurred.

Mushka also said Herman had phoned a co-worker and made “disturbing” comments he had killed someone.

Herman was later taken into custody without incident and provided information on where the police could locate the murder victim.

Nigel Maxwell, paNOW