Missoula Man Pleads Not Guilty to Killing His Girlfriend
At around 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 51-year-old Jacques Bernard appeared in Missoula District Court and pleaded not guilty to homicide. Bernard has been charged with fatally stabbing his girlfriend. He entered the not guilty plea before District Court Judge Jason Marks.
“You’re charged with one count of deliberate homicide, a felony, which is punishable by not less than 10 years in prison and up to life in prison,” Marks said. “Do understand the nature of the charge against you and the maximum possible penalty?”
Bernard responded, “I do.”
“Am I correct that you are pleading not guilty this morning,” Marks asked.
Bernard responded, “you are correct, sir.”
On January 24, 2022, at around 1:19 am, Missoula Police Department Officers responded to a residence in the 1200 block of South First Street West for a male reporting he had been stabbed. Court documents indicate Bernard told dispatch that his girlfriend had stabbed him. Bernard said he had just woken up in bed and realized he had been stabbed.
When officers arrived, they found a female deceased with several stab wounds. Bernard also had stab wounds and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He's since been released from the hospital and is now being held at the Missoula County Detention Facility.
Bernard is currently being charged with one count of felony deliberate homicide. This case was filed directly into District Court and Bernard's bail was set in the amount of $1,000,000. Bernard's next court appearance has been set for March 8.