Crown delays guilty plea for man accused in vicious attack on Alberta woman

LETHBRIDGE – The anticipated guilty pleas in the case of Denzel Dre Colton Bird will have to wait a little longer, this time at the request of the Crown.

Bird’s lawyer, Tonii Roulston, appeared in Lethbridge Provincial Court Tuesday morning (Sept. 5), saying they were prepared to offer guilty pleas to charges of aggravated sexual assault and break and enter.

Bird currently faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and break and enter.

Crown prosecutor, Erin Olsen, responded by saying they were not in a position to accept the pleas and move forward, as an agreed statement of facts had not been prepared. She noted that they only learned of the offered pleas on Thursday (Aug. 31), and as she and another colleague were out of the office on Friday, they did not have time to prepare a report, which could then be agreed to by Bird and his counsel.

While Roulston said they would be content proceeding with the information provided in the police report, Olsen said they wanted to be thorough and asked for a short adjournment, adding that she felt the defence was trying to rush things.

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Olsen explained that they had been involved in plea negotiations with Bird’s first lawyer, who Bird fired, rehired, then fired again, and they wanted to ensure everything was fully in place before accepting anything. She added that they also needed an opportunity to contact the victim and her family members, giving them a chance to be present, if they so desired.

Judge Jerry LeGrandeur agreed with the Crown, and had the matter adjourned to Friday (Sept. 8), at which time he would hear the pleas, should everything be ready.

Outside the courthouse, Roulston spoke to the media, explaining their position.

“There’s been no rush, I’ve had these instructions for a few weeks at least, after we had an opportunity to review the case file, to go over the disclosure with Mr. Bird, and then get instructions,” stated Roulston.

“It’s also just like the family of the victim, it’s been hanging over his head as well, and he is anxious to take responsibility for his actions,” she continued, of Bird’s intent to enter guilty pleas.

Should they be able to move forward on Friday, and if the pleas are accepted, Roulston says they will be asking for a pair of reports to assist in sentencing.

“There’s been some negotiations, I wouldn’t say there’s a deal per se. There has been the Crown position that’s been offered to us, and defence will reserve its position until after we obtain the Gladue report and the forensic assessment report by the psychologists and psychiatrists,” she explained.

The charges against Bird relate to an incident on Sept. 30, 2016. Members of the Lethbridge Police Service say a 25-year old woman was walking to work that morning, when she was struck with a weapon, dragged into an alley off 6 Avenue South and sexually assaulted.

The woman sustained life-threatening injuries, which required months of treatment in a Calgary hospital.

Police say there was no apparent connection between the accused and victim, and that they believe the attack was random.

 
Video courtesy Lethbridge News Now (Patrick Burles)