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Canada serial murder trial begins Canada farmer 'admitted murders'
(about 3 hours later)
A Canadian pig farmer has appeared in court near Vancouver at the start of what is being called the country's biggest murder trial. Prosecutors have told a court in Canada that murder suspect Robert Pickton has admitted he killed 49 women.
Robert Pickton is accused of killing 26 women, all of whom were prostitutes and drug addicts, who disappeared over a period of more than a decade. They say the pig farmer told an undercover police officer he wanted to kill one more to make it an "even 50".
The trial judge has warned that the evidence to be presented is horrific. Mr Pickton is accused of murdering 26 women - all of whom were prostitutes and drug addicts - who disappeared over a period of more than a decade.
Mr Pickton, 57, is the only person charged in the case. He has pleaded not guilty to murder. The 57-year-old is initially being tried for the murder of six of the women. He has pleaded not guilty.
He was delivered to a courtroom in New Westminster, British Columbia, in a convoy of police vehicles with sirens wailing on Monday. Mr Pickton will be tried in connection with the other 20 women later, because a judge decided that the volume of evidence could have overwhelmed the jury, and that the case ought to be split into two.
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 The heads of the individuals had been cut in two, vertically Derrill Prevett, prosecutor
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.
This trial is expected to last for at least a year.This trial is expected to last for at least a year.
Mr Pickton has been in jail since his arrest during an elaborate police investigation of dozens of missing women from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Police have identified more than 60 missing women in the area and are continuing their investigation. Prosecutors have not ruled out further charges against Mr Pickford.
His lawyer, Peter Ritchie, has called on the jury to keep an open mind about the case.
Body partsBody 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. The judge presiding over the case has told jurors they must brace themselves for "shocking" testimony.
Already they have heard opening statements containing graphic allegations against Mr Pickford.
There has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the caseThere 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, near Vancouver. The prosecutor, Derrill 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, near Vancouver.
"The heads of the individuals had been cut in two, vertically," he said."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.""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.Mr Prevett added that both skulls had bullet wounds.
Investigators also found a gun at the farm, which had a sex toy attached to the barrel.Investigators also found a gun at the farm, which had a sex toy attached to the barrel.
The sex toy had DNA of Mr Pickton and one of the alleged victims, the prosecutor said.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. Mr Prevett also told the court Mr Pickton had described himself to the undercover officer as a serial killer.
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. None of the evidence had been revealed in the Canadian media until the trial began, after a court order ruled that its publication could prejudice the trial.
Queue before dawn
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. If Mr Pickton is found guilty he faces life in prison.
If Mr Pickton is found guilty he faces life in prison. Canada does not have a death penalty.