Guilty plea planned for man accused of brutal sexual assault in Lethbridge

The man accused in a brutal, random sexualattack on a woman who was left for dead in an alley in Lethbridge, Alta.,plans to plead guilty.

Denzel Dre Colton Bird, 21, appeared in a Lethbridge courtroom on Thursday as defence counselRobin McIntyretold provincial court JudgeAllanLefeverthat her client plans to plead guilty next Tuesday.

"I understand there's going to be some deal worked out," McIntyre told the judge.

• Lethbridge man charged with attempted murder, sexual assault in savage attack on woman

McIntyre appeared on behalf of Bird's lawyer, ToniiRoulston, who plans to enter the guilty pleas next week.

Bird was charged in October2016 withattempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and break and enter.

In September 2016, a 25-year-old woman wassavagelyattacked as she walked to work. Heridentity is protected by a publication ban.

She was beaten, dragged into an alley and sexually assaulted.A passerby discovered her around 8:30 a.m.

The woman, who had just gotten married, spent four months in hospital recovering. According to her family, she had to learn to walk and talk again.

Bird has been in custody since his arrest.