Court documents reveal more details on brutal attack

Editors note: Story contains graphic content that some readers may find disturbing.

Opposing lawyers agree the man who brutally attacked Marlene Bird in 2014 knew he was committing a crime despite his level of impairment.  

Court documents recently made available to local media provided more details on the attempted murder of Marlene Bird by Leslie Black. On May 13, 2014, Bird and two friends were drinking in the downtown area of Prince Albert. At around 4 a.m., the group was approached by Black, who had earlier been drinking and smoking marijuana.

Eventually, Bird and Black were left alone, continued drinking and then had sex. The statement says when Bird started to pass out she told Black she would charge him with rape, which enraged him.

The document states Black started kicking and stomping Bird multiple times before using a lighter to set her clothes on fire. Black left Bird just before 5 a.m. and walked to a nearby store where he purchased candy.

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In the statement of facts, the defence admitted Black wasn’t impaired enough to not understand what he was doing.  

“(Black) then travelled by foot within visual proximity to the crime scene and noticed a small fire burning,” according to the statement, “yet did not stop to offer assistance to (Bird). He then went home to sleep.”

Black, according to a psychological assessment report done by Dr. Terry Nicholaichuk, said he was angry when the attack occurred and didn’t think about the consequences.

“I was drinking and just reacted,” he said in the assessment. “Mostly I go drinking with other people and if sex happens, it happens. I get upset when I think about my crime. In (the) future I would like to live a normal life but I can’t because I feel guilty.”

In his report, Nicholaichuk said wrote he believes Black is suffering from a form of PTSD after he witnessed the murder of his mother on his ninth birthday. He said Black has never been effectively treated for it as he continues to relive the trauma and has nightmares.

Black, in his Gladue report, said he was his “mom’s favourite. I was a mama’s boy . . . if I wanted something, I’d get it.”

Originally from Mistawasis First Nation, Black pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder. He is currently waiting to hear the outcome of a dangerous offender hearing which could dramatically impact the length of his sentence. That decision is expected sometime before the summer.

Bird lonely and frustrated following attack

In her victim impact statement, Bird gave some insight into her life after the attack, which left her with severe burns on her body and damage to her eyesight. The aftermath of the attack also led to the amputation of her legs.

“It’s frustrating that I can’t do anything on my own anymore,” she wrote in her statement. “I still (think) I (have) legs. (It) didn’t hit me right away. (I want) to do things like go to the bathroom on my own and I can’t.”

She said she’s frustrated she needs to rely so heavily on others to get around and mentioned there are times when her caregivers are too busy to support her. She also stated she fears running into Black’s family and friends.

When the case first made its way into the court system, Bird personally requested a court ordered publication ban on her identify be lifted in an effort to bring awareness to violence against women.

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter