PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – There is still no answer to the question of whether the man accused of assaulting a homeless woman who ended up having to have both legs amputated will opt for a trial by judge or jury. The attendance of Leslie Ivan Roderick Black, 29, has been waived at multiple court appearances over the past few months.
On Thursday, his lawyer, Terra Lennox-Zepp, requested another adjournment on choosing judge or jury for his trial on charges of aggravated sexual assault and attempted murder.
More: Accused in assault of Prince Albert homeless woman doesn’t seek bail
Marlene Bird, 47, was found badly burned and near death in a parking lot in Prince Albert, Sask., in June.
Although it’s rare to release the name of the victim in sexual assault cases, permission to lift a publication ban was granted after Bird’s aunt, Lorna Thiessen, said Bird didn’t want to be just another statistic.
On Thursday, Crown prosecutor Shawn Blackman mentioned how much time had passed since Bird was assaulted.
When Lennox-Zepp asked the judge to waive Black’s attendance for a Jan. 12 court date, Blackman responded he would like Black to be present if they were going ahead with election at that time.
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