Judge or jury for Leslie Black, no one knows

The question of whether the man accused of a brutal sexual assault will opt for trial by judge or jury remains unanswered.

Leslie Ivan Roderick Black’s attendance has been waived at multiple court appearances over the past few months. At the three court dates, his representation Terra Lennox-Zepp has requested an adjournment on choosing judge or jury – also known as an election.

Black, 29, is charged with aggravated sexual assault and attempted murder in connection to an assault against Marlene Bird in June.

Bird was cut, burnt, and had two legs amputated because of her injuries.

Black was arrested at the end of June, weeks after Bird, 47, was discovered in a parking lot near the Margo Fournier Center.

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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 stat[istic].”

During the Thursday appearance, which Black did not attend, Crown prosecutor Shawn Blackman mentioned how much time had passed since the original incident.

When Lennox-Zepp asked the judge to waive Black’s attendance for the Jan. 12 court date, Blackman responded he would like Black to be present if they were going ahead with election at that time.

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk