Raymond Clark III, who pleaded guilty to the murder of Annie Le GRD ’13 in March, will speak publicly about his crimes for the first time Friday.

Clark will be officially sentenced to 44 years in prison on Friday as part of a plea bargain announced in March. Before he receives his sentence, Clark plans to speak to the court, said Beth Merkin, one of Clark’s defense attorneys. Several of Le’s family members, and Clark’s father Raymond Clark II are also slated to address the court, Merkin said. Lawyers for the defense and prosecution will also speak briefly at the sentencing hearing which will begin at noon in courtroom 6A of the New Haven Superior Court, Merkin said.

Le’s fiancé, Jonathan Widawsky, may also address the court, Merkin said.

In March, as part of a plea bargain, Clark admitted that he killed Le and pleaded guilty under the Alford Doctrine to attempted sexual assault. This plea allowed Clark to acknowledge that the state had enough evidence for a sexual assault conviction without admitting that he committed the act.

Merkin said that she expects the court proceedings tomorrow to last about an hour.