Prosecutor: Deputy didn't have chance to reach for gun before Bradley shot her

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — After two weeks of jury selection, opening statements kicked off Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of killing a Brevard County deputy two years ago during a traffic stop.

Brandon Bradley, 24, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Brevard County Deputy Barbara Pill in 2012.

During opening statements, prosecutors told the jury Pill didn't even have a chance to reach for her gun before Bradley shot her dead.

"Deputy Pill never had a chance to reach for her gun. She only had time to activate the emergency signal on her vest," said prosecutor Jim McMaster.

McMaster said when Pill approached Bradley and his co-defendant, Andria Kerchner, on March 6, 2012,  she had no idea Bradley was wanted for  a violation of probation.

"She had seen his face, she saw his tag and she was about to find out that he was a wanted man. For that, she had to die," said McMaster.

Prosecutors said Bradley had no intention of going back to prison even if that meant killing an officer.

Pill was shot five times.

Just before jury selection resumed Tuesday, the defense presented motions to limit certain evidence.

Bradley and his ex-girlfriend, Kerchner, were face to face for the first time since their arrests.

Kerchner was called to the courtroom as part of a motion regarding her anticipated testimony.  The defense argued that because of her drug use, Kerchner was in no position to accurately testify to anything the defendant said on the day Pill was killed.

"What did you say, if anything, to Mr. Bradley?" an attorney asked.

"I was like, 'You don't have to do this,'" Kerchner replied.

Kerchner took a plea deal for 12 years in prison in exchange for her testimony.

WFTV