Kenneth Berard charged for the murder of Gerry Oar, Edmonton

On Saturday, March 5, at 1 a.m., police responded to a call from a rooming house on 107 Avenue and 96 Street regarding an aggravated assault.

Upon arrival, downtown EPS patrol members found 24-year-old Gerry Oar suffering from apparent stab wound(s). He was treated and transported to hospital by EMS, where doctors pronounced him dead shortly thereafter.

Later the same day, EPS arrested Kenneth Berard, 42, of Edmonton, and charged him with second degree murder and possession of an offensive weapon. Six outstanding criminal warrants were also executed on Berard.

Oar resided at the rooming house where the homicide occurred. The victim and the accused were known to each other, however, it is not clear as to the reason for Berard’s presence at the residence in the early hours of Saturday, March 5. Alcohol is believed to have been involved.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday afternoon. This is Edmonton’s 14th homicide of 2011.