Man sentenced March 11, 2013 to life in prison in the 2011 rape and attempted murder of a Southside woman

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -A Birmingham man has been sentenced to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to the

. Police said the suspect in the rape had scaled the balcony into her apartment.

Wyndell Hamner, 25, pleaded guilty on Monday to the charges of attempted murder, first degree rape, and first degree burglary during a hearing before Jefferson County Circuit Court Clyde Jones. He entered the plea just before he was to have gone on trial.

Jones sentenced Hamner to life in prison. As part of a plea agreement with Jefferson County prosecutors, a sex offender notification charge and a first degree kidnapping charge were dropped.

Deputy Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said they are "very pleased with the sentence."

The victim was present in the courtroom when the plea was taken, Carr said. Carr and Deputy Jefferson County District Attorney Laura Poston were the prosecutors on the case.

Hamner's attorney declined comment today.

Birmingham police arrested Hamner in April 2012 and charged him in connection with the July 27, 2011 rape and assault of a 25-year-old woman. Police said that Hamner had scaled the balcony of the Southside apartment where the woman lived, then sexually assaulted and cut her throat and stomach.

The Birmingham Police Department's Sex Crimes Unit investigated the case.

Updated at 2:25 p.m. March 12, 2013 with comments from prosecutor