Deputy Guilty in Fatal Shooting of Girlfriend
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was convicted Monday of voluntary manslaughter for shooting to death his girlfriend during an argument in his Malibu mobile home. William Joseph Burke, 31, was convicted by Superior Court Judge John Reid in the non-jury trial. Burke faces up to 16 years in prison when he is sentenced March 19.
Burke, who was based at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station, shot Brenda Berndt, 25, on June 2 after an argument involving their relationship. He testified last week that Berndt had shot herself.
The judge dismissed Burke’s scenario, noting that the deputy dialed the 911 emergency number and told the operator, “I just killed my girlfriend.”
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