Latest news with #BrandonAaron
Toronto Sun
13-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
Bradford Good Samaritan killer convicted of second-degree murder
He was also convicted of assaulting his girlfriend Get the latest from Brad Hunter straight to your inbox Brandon Aaron, 23, is on trial for the fatal stabbing of a Good Samaritan. Photo by South Simcoe Police Bradford thug Brandon Aaron has been convicted of second-degree murder for the brutal stabbing death of a Good Samaritan. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account CTV News reported that Aaron was found guilty in the Sept. 4, 2022, late-night stabbing of David Goddard, 59, who had intervened as Aaron battered his teenage girlfriend. The court heard that Aaron stabbed Goddard 20 times, resulting in his death. He was also convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend. It took the jury two hours to reach their verdict. Prosecutors said the Holland St. W. attack occurred around 3 a.m. Aaron and his young girlfriend had been out boozing in the town's downtown area. The unnamed teenager was reportedly angry with Aaron for losing her phone. From there, the situation escalated. Good Samaritan David Goddard was murdered in September 2022. SSPS But Aaron, 23, denied he was the aggressor and claimed he feared for his life from Goddard, who cops called a hero. However, prosecutors said Aaron held a knife to the girl's throat before breaking her arm with a flashlight she borrowed from a gas station to look for her phone. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That's when Goddard arrived on the scene to help. Prosecutors said the interloper caused Aaron to explode in a fury, and he pulled out a steak knife and repeatedly stabbed Goddard. The Good Samaritan was left on the side of the road. Goddard had frightened Aaron, his lawyers suggested, calling the older man's behaviour provocative. Aaron's judgment, the defence added, was impaired by alcohol. The teen's testimony varied from what she originally told detectives hours after the slaying. She claimed she broke her own arm, and that Goddard had kindly offered to take her home. The victim's family told CTV News they believe the girl was 'very heavily influenced' by her homicidal paramour. 'He didn't care, by the looks of it, didn't let anything stand in the way between him and his girlfriend,' Donald Ayers, Goddard's brother-in-law, told the network. Ayers added: 'We're very pleased that justice has been done and we can put this behind us. David would go out of his way to help someone. A little bit of a hole in our family now, but we're going to be able to put him to rest and continue on with our lives.' The victim's family hopes the young killer learns from the tragedy and turns his life around. A date will be set for Aaron's sentencing hearing during a court appearance next week. bhunter@ @HunterTOSun Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Columnists World
CTV News
12-06-2025
- CTV News
Jury reaches verdict in 2022 fatal stabbing of Good Samaritan in Bradford
A jury has found Brandon Aaron guilty of second-degree murder and assault following a violent incident in Bradford three years ago that left a 59-year-old man, who police called a Good Samaritan, dead. The jury took about two hours to reach its verdict Thursday, convicting Aaron of stabbing David Goddard 20 times and assaulting his then-girlfriend in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, 2022. According to the Crown, the attack happened on Holland Street West around 3 a.m., after Aaron and the young woman, then a teenager, had been out drinking in downtown Bradford. The court heard she became upset with Aaron for losing her cellphone, and the situation quickly escalated. 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. The Crown said Aaron held a knife to her throat and later broke her arm with a flashlight she had borrowed from a nearby gas station to search for her phone. It was then that Goddard, a bystander, stepped in to help the woman. The Crown told the court Aaron became enraged, pulled out a steak knife, and fatally stabbed Goddard over and over before leaving him on 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 defence argued Aaron acted in self-defence and was frightened by Goddard, who was both older and larger. 'He was fearful for his life,' said defence lawyer Eugene Bhattacharya. He described Goddard's behaviour as provocative and said Aaron's ability to understand what was happening that night was impaired by intoxication. During the trial, the young woman offered a different account from what she had originally told police just hours after the stabbing. On the witness stand she claimed she broke her own arm that night and said Goddard had simply offered to take her home. The defence urged the jury to find Aaron not guilty of murder if they were left with any reasonable double about whether he acted out of fear. Ultimately, the jury wasn't swayed by the defence. Aaron is scheduled to return to court next week when a date is expected to be set for his sentencing hearing. Brandon Aaron Court Exhibits Brandon Aaron photographed by the South Simcoe Police Service on Sept. 4, 2022. (Source: Court Exhibit) Related Articles
CTV News
12-06-2025
- CTV News
Closing arguments continue in Brandon Aaron court case
Closing arguments in the Brandon Aaron trial where police say a Good Samaritan was killed trying to protect Aaron's girlfriend from Aaron in Sept., 2022.
CTV News
06-06-2025
- CTV News
‘My purpose was to survive': Bradford man accused of murder tells jury
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.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Bradford man accused of stabbing Good Samaritan 20 times takes witness stand
The Bradford, Ont. man accused of second-degree murder of a Good Samaritan and the assault of his teenage girlfriend took the witness stand in his defence. The Bradford, Ont. man accused of second-degree murder of a Good Samaritan and the assault of his teenage girlfriend took the witness stand Thursday in his defence. Brandon Aaron, 23, told the court he 'feared for his life' and stabbed David Goddard, 59, in the early morning hours of September 4, 2022, along Holland Street West in Bradford, when the stranger came up to him and punched and choked him. During examination-in-chief by his lawyer Eugene Bhattacharya, Aaron told the court he was afraid when the older and heavier man approached him in an aggressive manner. Aaron said Goddard began choking him, and when he could feel his eyes closing, he stabbed the man. 'I thought I was going to die. I felt like I had to,' he testified. Aaron told the court he was initially punched and knocked to the ground by Goddard, who straddled him, which resulted in his gold chains leaving marks on his neck before they were ripped apart. Brandon Aaron Court Exhibits Brandon Aaron photographed by the South Simcoe Police Service on Sept. 4, 2022. (Source: Court Exhibit) 'I just got scared,' said Aaron. 'I knew I had my knife. I stabbed him,' Aaron explained to the court. Aaron described swinging his knife as hard as he could to break free from the man he said attacked him. He said as Goddard's grip on his throat loosened he slipped out from under the stranger, before stabbing Goddard again in the back. He could not remember how many times he stabbed Goddard. 'I was in shock,' Aaron said. Aaron, who testified he could not see whether Goddard was bleeding because it was dark out, described seeing blood on his hands before heading home. He told his mother 'something happened' and he'd been attacked. The court has heard Goddard, whom police described as a Good Samaritan, came to the aid of Aaron's then 17-year-old girlfriend that night when she told police he must have heard her screams. She was later taken to hospital for a broken forearm after seeking help at a nearby apartment building. 'I was screaming because of the pain that I was in, that's when the guy heard me and came over,' she told a South Simcoe Police detective about nine hours after the stabbing. Goddard, she told police, offered help after an enraged Aaron beat her with a flashlight she'd borrowed from a nearby gas station to find her missing cell phone that she believed Aaron dropped that night. She told police Aaron pushed and struck her repeatedly and threatened to kill her when he pulled a knife from his side bag. 'He took the flashlight from me and started hitting me with it and then he held a knife to my throat, and he was like 'If killed you right now and left you nobody would find you,'' she said in the final of three police interviews that day. Aaron testified he never hit his girlfriend that night and did not hold a knife to her throat. On the witness stand, Aaron's former girlfriend, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, changed her story dramatically. She testified she didn't tell police the truth when she spoke with detectives and felt 'ambushed.' The defence conceded Aaron sent the young woman a series of Instagram messages between three and five hours after the stabbing, telling her what happened. The Crown suggested Aaron was telling his beaten girlfriend what to tell police. About 10 days later, the young woman returned to police to retract her previous statements to investigators. 'I'm going to be gone for a very long time,' read one of the messages from Aaron. 'im telling them it was self defense. that u were drunk and kept falling so i was kinda carrying you bc you couldn't walk.' 'Can u please just save me ur all I got,' he asked. The messages were discovered by the young woman's mother after her daughter borrowed her phone later that day. Aaron testified his 'mind was not right' when he was sending the messages and disagreed with the Crown's suggestion that he was trying to tell his girlfriend what to tell police happened the night Goddard died. The trial continues Friday with closing arguments expected to begin Wednesday of next week.
