 Johnny Bermudez admitted to killing a young girl while on the witness stand in Toronto, Ont., Wedensday, November 4th, 2009. (Sun Media/Greg Henkenhaf)
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The former boyfriend of a woman on trial for beating her baby to death has only confessed to the killing because he is still in love with her, a Toronto court heard yesterday.
On Wednesday Johnny Bermudez admitted he killed the 34-month-old girl, but only after he was granted Section Five protection under the Criminal Justice Act, which means none of his testimony can be used against him in the future.
Erica Mendieta is on trial for killing her daughter, Emmily Lucas.
A 911 call was made on Nov. 13, 2003 and Emmily was taken to hospital with bruises all over her body and a black and blue face. She died 10 days later from the effects of a blow to her head.
ACCUSED OF LYING
Crown attorney Allison MacPherson accused Bermudez of lying in an attempt to save Mendieta, who he still loves.
"I'm putting myself in a whole lot of trouble here. We aren't even together any more. I'm not here for her I'm here for myself," Bermudez said yesterday.
"I didn't come to court with a story to help Erica. I'm trying to cleanse myself of this. I want forgiveness from God."
Bermudez testified he was alone minding Erica and the baby son he and Mendieta had together and that he snapped because the two wouldn't stop crying.
He slapped his son and threw him on the couch and the baby bounced onto the floor, he said.
He slapped and pushed Erica down twice, but then admitted he was in such a rage he didn't know how many times he hit her, he said.
It was only after drinking a 12-pack of beer and smoking pot that he realized he had to tell the truth to make peace with God, Bermudez said.
