The Langford man accused of the violent sexual assault of a Victoria street sex worker will return to court Friday to learn the date of his bail hearing.
Edward Charles Burman, 31, is being held at the Vancouver Island Regional Correction Centre in Saanich while his case inches through provincial court in Victoria.
The bespectacled and severely balding heavy-set man appeared in court Tuesday afternoon by video. He sat, listening quietly as provincial Judge Susan Wishart agreed to schedule his next court appearance for Friday (Jan. 20) at 9:30 a.m., when his bail hearing will be arranged.
Burman was arrested at his home in the 2800-block of Aldwynd Rd. near Goldstream Avenue by Victoria police on Jan. 12.
Charges sworn against him in court the following day include assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault causing bodily harm and robbery - almost a year after a 30-year-old Victoria female sex worker said she was attacked by a customer on Feb. 19, 2011.
The pair had just finished having sexual relations, when police say the accused allegedly sexually assaulted the woman in the 3000-block of Douglas St. She fought him off and called 911.
Investigators say they have been able to match the accused's DNA to forensic evidence already on file from a previous case in which another Victoria sex worker was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash. Police consider the accused a suspect in that December 2009 incident. The investigation continues. No charges have been laid.
emccracken@vicnews.com