P.A. attacker not declared a dangerous offender

PRINCE ALBERT A man who viciously beat a homeless woman before setting her on fire will not be declared a dangerous offender.

Leslie Black pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the beating, burning and sexual assault of Marlene Bird in an alley in Prince Albert in 2014. Her injuries were so serious both legs had to be amputated and she lost much of her eyesight.

“He’ll do that to somebody else,” said Bird, who is 50, outside court on Wednesday.

“He’s got to learn not to treat women like that.”

She said it was painful to see her attacker but she felt it was important for Black to see her.

“He just looked at me and looked down,” Bird said. “Didn’t say sorry.”

Judge Stanley Loewen noted in his ruling that after the 2014 attack, Black walked to a nearby 7-Eleven and bought candy. Black then walked past Bird, who was still on fire, and ignored her.

It was several hours before Bird was discovered. She was barely clinging to life, with burns so severe they exposed her facial bones.

Loewen ruled that while Black’s brutal crime warrants a lengthy jail sentence and a long-term supervision order, his risk to reoffend could be managed in the community.

Loewen is expected to sentence Black on Sept. 22.

In June, Bird told court she can’t do anything on her own now, including simple things such as picking a blueberry or using the bathroom.

In handwritten letters filed with the court, Bird said she has to wear adult diapers, can’t control her bowels and feels disgusted with herself when she can’t make it to the bathroom in time. Bird said she also fears entering the city because of the attack.

In a brief statement, which Black read despite a stutter he has had since witnessing his mother’s murder when he was nine years old, Black said he understands that Bird and her family have not forgiven him.

“I apologize for what I did,” he said at the time. “I still can’t forgive myself.”

A psychiatrist told the dangerous offender hearing that Black has at least eight separate conditions, including anti-social personality disorder, childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and suspected fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Black’s defence lawyer argued his client’s actions were brutal, but said that does not mean Black will violently offend again.