Parole request denied for man who attacked, set fire to woman in P.A.

The man sent to prison for attacking a Prince Albert woman and setting her on fire in 2014 will remain behind bars.

The Parole Board of Canada has denied the parole request of Leslie Black. The 35-year-old was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder in the beating, burning and sexual assault of Marlene Bird.

Bird lost much of her eyesight and both of her legs were amputated as a result of the attack. She died in 2017 at the age of 50 from heart, liver and kidney failure.

During his hearing last week, Black told the board the attack happened around the anniversary of his mother’s murder and he’d been drinking more frequently. He didn’t know Bird and told the board the sexual assault was “out of the blue.”

On June 1, 2014, Black set fire to Bird’s shirt with a lighter he had in his pocket and then went into a nearby store to get candy. After he emerged from the store, he walked past Bird, who was still on fire.

She was found by a passerby nearly six hours later.

In dismissing Black’s request, the parole board said he still shows “limited insight into the underlying factors that allowed (him) to engage in this level of violence.”

The board noted he also has had issues with violence during his time in prison, including fights with inmates and weapons found in his cell.

“Your inability to follow institutional rules raises concerns for the board about your ability and willingness to abide by conditions in the community,” the board wrote in its ruling.

Psychological assessments presented at the recent hearing said Black remains a risk to commit sexual offences in the future and suggested any form of conditional release would be premature.

— With files from The Canadian Press