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Trial begins for youth charged with attempted murder

Dec 5, 2016 | 1:46 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The trial is underway for a man who was charged with attempted murder and sexual assault when he was 17 years old.

The individual – who can’t be named because of his age – is accused in a violent attack on a 45-year old Lethbridge woman last year.

Lethbridge Police say a man entered a home in the 2100 block of Palm Road South just before 5-am on May 3, 2015, sexually assaulted the woman, dragged her outside where the sexual assault continued, then slit her throat and fled the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital where she required immediate surgery.

Details from the Crown’s portion of the case are currently covered under a publication ban, as the judge must first hear it all under a Voir Dire to determine the admissibility of certain evidence.

Following a preliminary hearing earlier this year, a judge ruled that statements given to police by the alleged victim and a witness could be used during the trial, as both have died of unrelated causes since the incident.

The Crown has noted that if they get a conviction, they will seek an adult sentence for the accused.

The trial is scheduled to run for two weeks.