Photo Credit: Andy Clark/Reuters Family and friends of one the six women Robert Pickton is charged with murdering embrace outside the courthouse in New Westminster, B.C., on Jan. 22, 2007.

This is a composite of Pickton and all of the victims.

Robert Pickton was just found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. -Gasps were followed by muffled cheers as it was announced that Robert Pickton was found guilty today on six counts of second-degree murder.

Clockwise from top left: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Angela Joesbury, Brenda Wolfe, Georgina Papin and Marni Frey. Photo credit: CBC News

These six women lost their lives and their remains were found at his pig farm.

Family members of the six women fled the courthouse in tears, running into the courtyard to huddle near a Christmas tree hung with lace angels representing their loved ones.

Greg Garley, whose foster sister Mona Wilson was among Pickton’s victims, told the The Canadian Press in his first interview after the verdict that his whole family was ecstatic

“We knew it. We knew that he was guilty. And now the province knows it. And now the whole world knows it.”

Garley said he feels like a burden’s been lifted off his shoulders.

There are another 20 murdered women the Crown could pursue him for. Will there be another trial? I expect so, but we’ll see.

In some ways, the reduction from First Degree to Second Degree Murder is a disgrace; he could conceivably be out on parole in 10 years instead of the 25 that would be required for First Degree murder. I think it’s sickening that any society would keep a monster like this alive.

The 12-member jury completed this 10th day of deliberations delivering a verdict. The trial began on Jan. 22 and heard from 128 witnesses. ¹

Previous here, here, here.

A total of 70 women have disappeared in the Vancouver area from the late 80’s until 2001, and in the 90’s, people were complaining to the police that women in the sex trade were disappearing. At the time, police said there was no evidence of a serial killer. But by April 2001, they’d formed a task force. And by February, 2002, Pickton was arrested.

Many of Pickton’s victims were of First Nations ancestry.

1. Matas, R. & Mickleburgh, R. (December 8, 2007) Victims’ families upset over treatment, Globe and Mail/footnote>[back]