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Canada serial murder trial opens Canada serial murder trial begins
(about 5 hours later)
A Canadian pig farmer has appeared in court in Vancouver at the start of what is being called Canada's biggest ever murder trial. A Canadian pig farmer has appeared in court near Vancouver at the start of what is being called the country's biggest ever murder trial.
Robert Pickton is accused of killing 26 women, most of whom were prostitutes and drug addicts, who disappeared over two decades. Robert Pickton is accused of killing 26 women, all of whom were prostitutes and drug addicts, who disappeared over a period of 10 years in the 1990s.
The trial judge has warned that the evidence to be presented is horrific.The trial judge has warned that the evidence to be presented is horrific.
Mr Pickton, 57, is the only person charged in the case. He has pleaded not guilty to murder.Mr Pickton, 57, is the only person charged in the case. He has pleaded not guilty to murder.
He was delivered to court in a convoy of police vehicles with sirens wailing on Monday. He was delivered to a courtroom in New Westminster, British Columbia, in a convoy of police vehicles with sirens wailing on Monday.
He later appeared in the specially built bullet-proof dock, clean-shaven, but with long hair, wearing a grey shirt, and carrying a folder full of papers and a blanket. The heads of the individuals had been cut in two, vertically. With the skulls were left and right hands and the front parts of the left and right feet Derrill Prevett, prosecutor
He is being tried for the murder of six of the missing women, and will be tried over the other 20 later. He later appeared in the specially built bullet-proof dock, clean-shaven, with long hair, wearing a grey shirt, and carrying a folder full of papers and a blanket.
He is being tried for the murder of six of the missing women, and will be tried in connection with the other 20 later.
The judge decided that the volume of evidence could have overwhelmed the jury, and that the case ought to be split into two.The judge decided that the volume of evidence could have overwhelmed the jury, and that the case ought to be split into two.
This trial is expected to last for at least a year.This trial is expected to last for at least a year.
Body parts
In opening statements, prosecutor Derrill Prevett said he intended to prove that Mr Pickton murdered the six women, butchered their remains and then disposed of them.
There has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case
Mr Prevett said the heads and other body parts of two of the victims were found in a freezer during a 2002 police search of Mr Pickton's farm in Port Coquitlam, about 50km (30 miles) west of Vancouver.
"The heads of the individuals had been cut in two, vertically," he said.
"With the skulls were left and right hands and the front parts of the left and right feet."
Mr Prevett added that both skulls had bullet wounds.
Investigators also found a gun at the farm, which had a sex toy attacked to the barrel.
The sex toy had DNA of Mr Pickton and one of the alleged victims, the prosecutor said.
The prosecution also said they would ask an undercover police officer to appear as a witness who claims Robert Pickton confessed to 49 murders to him.
None of these allegations have been presented as evidence in court, and the lawyer for the defence team asked the jury to keep an open mind about whether the murders can be proven to be linked to Mr Pickton, the BBC's Lee Carter in New Westminster reports.
Queue before dawnQueue before dawn
None of the evidence has been revealed in the Canadian press, after a court order that its publication could prejudice the trial. None of the evidence had been revealed in the Canadian press until the trial began, after a court order ruled that its publication could prejudice the trial.
Therefore there has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case.Therefore there has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case.
Members of the public began queuing before dawn hoping to get one of the few dozen available seats in the public gallery when the trial got under way on Monday morning, while there was also a big press contingent.Members of the public began queuing before dawn hoping to get one of the few dozen available seats in the public gallery when the trial got under way on Monday morning, while there was also a big press contingent.
The first day's proceedings were expected to include opening remarks from both the prosecution and the defence.
If Mr Pickton is found guilty he faces life in prison. Canada does not have a death penalty.If Mr Pickton is found guilty he faces life in prison. Canada does not have a death penalty.