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Robert William PicktonCanadian farmer and serial killer
Date of Birth: 26.10.1949
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Biography of Robert William Pickton
Robert William 'Willie' Pickton was born on October 26, 1949, in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. He was a Canadian farmer and serial killer.
The Investigation and Arrest
On February 5, 2005, the police obtained a search warrant for illegal firearms in the possession of Pickton and his three siblings. He was taken into custody, and a court order was issued to search his farm as part of the investigation into the BC Missing Women case, which involved the disappearance of at least 60 women. Personal belongings of the missing women, including a prescription for an asthma inhaler, were found on his property. The farm was closed off by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Vancouver Police Department. Pickton was initially charged with possession of firearms without a license but was later released and placed under police supervision.
The Charges and Trial
On February 22, 2002, Pickton was arrested for the murders of Sereena Abotsway and Mona Wilson. On April 2, 2002, he faced additional charges for the murders of Jacqueline McDonell, Diane Rock, and Heather Bottomley. The number of charges against him eventually grew to 27.
The excavation of the pig farm where Pickton lived continued until November 2003, with an estimated cost of $70 million. The search for remains was challenging due to the possibility of the bodies being used as fertilizer or fed to pigs. In March 2004, it was discovered that human flesh may have been mixed with pig meat from the farm. The preliminary investigation results, conducted in 2003, were kept hidden from the public until 2010. During the investigation, it was revealed that Pickton had been charged with attempted murder in 1997 for an incident involving a sex worker. However, the charges were dropped due to the witness's drug addiction and perceived instability.
The trial of Pickton began on January 30, 2006, in New Westminster, British Columbia. He pleaded not guilty to 27 counts of first-degree murder. On February 22, 2007, the first day of the jury trial, Pickton was only charged with the murders of six women. The judge likely chose to focus on a smaller number of cases to expedite the proceedings. After nearly a year of trial, Pickton was found guilty in December 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for 25 years.
Current Status
Today, Pickton, along with his lawyer, is seeking to overturn the jury's verdict and is demanding $10 million in compensation from the Canadian government for the destruction of his pig farm during the investigation. At the time of his sentencing, Pickton was 58 years old, meaning he could potentially file his first appeal at the age of 83, if he lives that long.
