Pig farmer Robert Pickton, feared to be one of Canada's most prolific killers, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of six women.
Pig farmer Robert Pickton, feared to be one of Canada's most prolific killers, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of six women.
A separate trial for the murder of another 20 women has still to be scheduled, while police believe he may have caused almost 50 deaths in all.
A separate trial for the murder of another 20 women has still to be scheduled, while police believe he may have caused almost 50 deaths in all.
The court in Vancouver said he would be eligible for parole after 25 years.
Officers found dismembered remains and personal belongings when they raided his farm near Vancouver five years ago.
Officers found dismembered remains and personal belongings when they raided his farm near Vancouver five years ago.
The court near Vancouver said he would be eligible for parole after 25 years.
But it is thought unlikely that Pickton will ever be freed from jail.
'Senseless and despicable'
Most of the women Pickton targeted were prostitutes and drug addicts who vanished from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside area over more than a decade.
When you took her from me, it was like ripping out my heart Brittney FreyVictim's daughter
Passing sentence, Judge James Williams said: "What happened to them was senseless and despicable."
Pickton butchered the women's remains and fed them to his pigs, Authorities said.
Health officials once issued a tainted meat advisory to neighbours who might have bought pork from his farm over fears the meat might have contained human remains.
There were emotional scenes as the court heard a statement by the daughter of one of Pickton's victims.
Staring directly at Pickton, Lynn Frey read out some words from her 15-year-old granddaughter Brittney.
Investigators found a jawbone fragment from the teenager's mother, Marnie, on Pickton's farm.
The statement said: "Mr Pickton, why did you do that? When you took her from me, it was like ripping out my heart."
Pickton was also convicted of murdering five other women: Sereena Abotsway, Andrea Joesbury, Mona Wilson, Brenda Wolfe and Georgina Papin.
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