PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — A former Mountie convicted of killing his former lover in a park was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in prison.

“In one sense, this case is as near to murder as it can get, but on the other it was also near to self-defence,” Justice Gary Meschishnick said in his sentencing decision for Bernie Herman.

The judge said Bernie Herman was scared his romantic relationship with Braden Herman would be exposed and left his “moral compass in his pocket,” resulting in the needless death.