Barrie, Ontario — A courtroom was gripped by silence this week as jurors viewed a video featuring a South Simcoe police detective informing the former girlfriend of Brandon Aaron about the tragic fate of a Good Samaritan, David Goddard, who attempted to intervene during a violent altercation. Goddard, who was 59 years old, was found dead on a sidewalk in Bradford during Labour Day weekend in 2022. Aaron, aged 23, is currently on trial for second-degree murder under the watch of Superior Court Justice Jill Cameron in Barrie.
The emotional video depicted the young woman, who cannot be identified due to her age at the time, reacting to the news of Goddard’s death. “This is so bad… so bad,” she exclaimed, understandably upset. As the detective confirmed that Goddard succumbed to his injuries and that Aaron faced murder charges, she questioned the potential consequences for Aaron, asking, “Is he going to jail for life?”
The trial also addresses a separate assault charge against Aaron, related to the ex-girlfriend, who reported that he had broken her arm during the same incident. During the early hours of September 4, 2022, she recounted that she asked Aaron to carry her phone, only for him to lose it, leading to a series of events that turned violent.
In court, two audio recordings and a longer video were presented, showing the woman’s various statements made to the police following Goddard’s death. Her testimony included alarming details of the night, stating that Aaron had held a knife to her throat and struck her arm with a flashlight, which was also corroborated by evidence found at the scene.
The prosecution contends that the fatal interaction between Aaron and Goddard arose when the latter attempted to assist the young woman, who was already under attack from Aaron. Witnesses testified that Goddard was stabbed approximately 20 times. The former girlfriend recalled disturbing remarks made by Aaron during their struggle, heightening the alleged severity of the attack.
As the trial proceedings unfold, more revelations are expected. The woman described how she attempted to escape the violence, later seeking refuge at a nearby apartment building, where she made contact with law enforcement. The complexities of her statements have drawn scrutiny, particularly as she initially expressed reluctance to fully support the Crown’s case against Aaron.
The courtroom dynamics reflect the gravity of the situation, marked by the interplay of video evidence and witness testimonies that capture the tension surrounding the events that led to Goddard’s untimely death.
The trial is scheduled to resume on Tuesday as additional evidence and testimonies will continue to shape the narrative surrounding this tragic incident, with the jury poised to consider the implications of the accused’s actions.
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