In December 2007, Robert Pickton, one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to the maximum punishment of life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. For the 58 year-old pig farmer, that’s akin to a death sentence.
However, neither the prosecution nor the defense was happy with the outcome of that 11-month trial.
The prosecution argued the evidence supported a conviction for first-degree murder, while the defense argued the evidence didn’t support a conviction at all. Both sides are appealing.
Now British Columbia Attorney-General Wally Oppal says that if the appeal succeeds and Pickton is granted a new trial, he’ll be tried on all 26 original charges. If the appeal fails, Pickton will not be tried on the remaining 20 charges. Families of the 20 victims for whom Pickton has not yet faced trial are outraged that they may not get their day in court.