Local sources from Canada: CTV News Vancouver, Castanet.net.
UK coverage: The Guardian.
Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer who infamously fed his victims’ remains to his pigs, has died after being assaulted in prison. Pickton, 71, was attacked by another inmate at Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec on May 19th and passed away in hospital on Friday. He was convicted in 2007 of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. The remains or DNA of 33 women were found on Pickton’s farm, and he once claimed to have killed a total of 49 women.
According to a report from CTV News Vancouver, the Correctional Service of Canada confirmed Pickton’s death and stated that his next of kin and registered victims have been notified. The assault took place on May 19th at the Port-Cartier Institution, and the assailant, a 51-year-old inmate, remains incarcerated. Quebec provincial police are currently investigating the incident.
Pickton’s crimes had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, particularly on Indigenous peoples, victims, and their families. B.C. Premier David Eby expressed mixed emotions about Pickton’s death, acknowledging that for some, it may bring closure, while for others, it will reopen old wounds. Eby and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth reiterated their commitment to supporting the families of the victims in their pursuit of justice.
In an article from Castanet.net, B.C. Premier David Eby is quoted as saying ‘good riddance’ to Pickton, emphasizing that he preyed on the most vulnerable individuals in society. Eby also highlighted the importance of recognizing the dignity of every person to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s minister of public safety and solicitor general, acknowledged that Pickton’s death has reopened old wounds for the families of his victims and pledged continued support in their search for answers and justice.
Robert Pickton’s reign of terror came to an end in 2007 when he was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. However, the discovery of the remains and DNA of 33 women on his pig farm in Port Coquitlam suggests that his actual number of victims may be higher. The death of Pickton, while bringing closure to some, serves as a reminder of the devastating impact his crimes had on the community and the ongoing need for justice and support for the victims’ families.
TheLittleTwentieth - Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused 