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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Canada farmer 'admitted murders' | Canada farmer 'admitted murders' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Prosecutors have told a court in Canada that murder suspect Robert Pickton has admitted he killed 49 women. | Prosecutors have told a court in Canada that murder suspect Robert Pickton has admitted he killed 49 women. |
| They say the pig farmer told an undercover police officer he wanted to kill one more to make it an "even 50". | They say the pig farmer told an undercover police officer he wanted to kill one more to make it an "even 50". |
| 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 is accused of murdering 26 women - all of whom were prostitutes and drug addicts - who disappeared over a period of more than a decade. |
| The 57-year-old is initially being tried for the murder of six of the women. He has pleaded not guilty. | The 57-year-old is initially being tried for the murder of six of the women. He has pleaded not guilty. |
| 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. | 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 Derrill Prevett, prosecutor | The heads of the individuals had been cut in two, vertically Derrill Prevett, prosecutor |
| 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. | 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 Pickton. | |
| His lawyer, Peter Ritchie, has called on the jury to keep an open mind about the case. | His lawyer, Peter Ritchie, has called on the jury to keep an open mind about the case. |
| Body parts | Body parts |
| The judge presiding over the case has told jurors they must brace themselves for "shocking" testimony. | 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 Pickton. | |
| There has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case | There has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case |
| 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 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. |
| Mr Prevett also told the court Mr Pickton had described himself to the undercover officer as a serial killer. | Mr Prevett also told the court Mr Pickton had described himself to the undercover officer as a serial killer. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Therefore there has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case. | Therefore there has been huge anticipation in Canada ahead of the case. |
| If Mr Pickton is found guilty he faces life in prison. | If Mr Pickton is found guilty he faces life in prison. |