A Surrey man charged with aggravated sexual assault in connection with an early-morning attack on the Galloping Goose trail in late June will appear in provincial court in mid-November.
Bradley Michael Muscat appeared by video last week in Western Communities provincial court from the Surrey pretrial centre.
In addition to the aggravated-sexual-assault charge, the 20-year-old is charged with sexual assault using a knife, unlawful confinement and robbery in connection with the June 26 assault on a woman in her early 20s.
Aggravated sexual assault is a sexual assault that wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the victim. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The case was adjourned until Nov. 13 after Muscat told the court he did not have a lawyer.
Muscat was arrested on Oct. 2 by West Shore RCMP officers, who teamed up with Surrey RCMP officers on the Lower Mainland.
At the time of the assault, an RCMP spokesman said a young woman was walking alone along Jacklin Road about 2 a.m. on June 26 when she was grabbed by a man and dragged along the nearby trail for about 100 metres.
The man forced her over a bridge that crosses the trail and into a wooded area. The woman fought off her assailant and flagged down a passing driver, who called 911.
Police raced to the area but could not find the attacker.
The injured woman was taken to hospital and released several hours later.
Police issued a description of the assailant, canvassed neighbouring residents and made a request for public assistance.
