An RCMP report setting out evidence that could possibly support six additional murder charges against convicted killer Robert Pickton will be sent to Crown prosecutors in B.C., RCMP spokesperson Corporal Annie Linteau said yesterday.
In a surprising development in the sensational murder case, Cpl. Linteau said police are now ready to add the names of six more women to the list of 26 that they allege were killed by Mr. Pickton.
The Mounties intend to forward their report even though Crown prosecutors have said they will not consider additional charges against Mr. Pickton until after the appeal of his conviction of second-degree murder in 2007 has been heard in the Supreme Court of Canada.
"Even though we have been informed by the Crown, verbally, that they would not be proceeding with the six [new] charges ... we are still sending a report to Crown counsel to complete the process," Cpl. Linteau said.
"We still have a responsibility to fully investigate these cases and send the Crown all the information."
"Of course, we are fully aware and cognizant of what the Crown said publicly," she added. "But by not sending that information [to Crown prosecutors], it could leave us, the police, unprepared and Crown [prosecutors] not fully informed, should further trials be required."
The decision on whether new charges will be laid against Mr. Pickton will be made by the prosecutors, not police, she also said.
Neil MacKenzie, a spokesman for the Pickton prosecution team, said prosecutors have been aware "for some time" that there was DNA from additional women located on exhibits seized from Mr. Pickton's farm.
Police have previously told the Crown about the evidence, but the Pickton case was already proceeding, he said.
"Crown counsel discussed it with police at that time and indicated that we would not be laying additional charges at that time. The police and prosecution team were focused on the trial process and the subsequent appeal," Mr. MacKenzie said.
Once police formally submit their material, the prosecution team will complete its "charge assessment process" on these six new charges, he said. However, prosecutors do not intend to take any additional charges to trial if Mr. Pickton is unsuccessful in his appeal, he also said.
The RCMP report could lead to charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Yvonne Boen, Sharon Abraham, Dawn Crey, Jacqueline Murdock, Stephanie Lane and Nancy Clark. Cpl. Linteau said she could not say why the RCMP was moving ahead with this case at this time. "I imagine they felt there was potentially sufficient evidence for Crown to possibly approve these charges," she said.
Bernice Williams, a community activist who has been pressing for an inquiry into murdered and missing women, said she was puzzled over why the Mounties were sending their report at this time to Crown counsel.
Ernie Crey, the brother of one of the six women, said he was pleased to hear that the prosecutors will receive a report setting out the evidence related to his sister, Dawn. "Now we'll wait and see what the Crown does with this," he said.
Gil McKinnon, Mr. Pickton's lawyer in his appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, refused to comment. Peter Wilson, Mr. Pickton's trial lawyer, did not respond to a request for an interview.
Mr. Pickton was convicted in December, 2007, of second-degree murder in the killings of Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Marnie Frey, Brenda Wolfe and Georgina Papin. Mr. Pickton is also charged with the murder of 20 other women.
