Leslie Black troubled but not sociopathic: psychologist
At the dangerous offender hearing for Leslie Ivan Roderick Black an expert psychologist said Black, while severely troubled and in need of intensive treatment, is not entirely beyond hope.
Black pleaded guilty to attempted murder after a vicious 2014 assault on a Prince Albert woman. After beating and raping the woman, Black lit her on fire resulting in the amputation of both her legs and severe damage to her eyesight. His dangerous offender hearing has been running since March 13 at Prince Albert Provincial Court. If he receives the designation, Black could be imprisoned indefinitely.
Today the first defense witness, psychologist Dr. Terry Nicholaichuk, took the stand. Nicholaichuk interviewed Black over a two-day period and compiled a lengthy report detailing his risk to reoffend.
Unlike Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe, who testified for the Crown last week, Nicholaichuk said the extreme violence used in Black’s crime does not necessarily mean he is at an increased risk of recidivism. Nicholaichuk noted there is no peer-reviewed evidence to suggest a relationship between the level of harm done to a victim and rates of reoffending, while those who have shown an pattern of violence are highly likely to commit more violent crimes.