Robert Pickton. Serial killer. Fed women to pigs. Convicted of...2nd degree murder

[Wezil]

Originally posted by DirtyMartini


I'd like to think I wouldn't care whether tax money was wasted on such a trial (provided I'd seen sufficient evidence to convince me that he's the one who did it, and such a trial would have nothing to add to his punishment.) While I'm probably wrong about my own pragmatism, I don't think that the DA (or Canadian equivalent) should be.

Additional convictions will make parole even less likely.

I agree with you in principle, but again, he didn't kill our loved ones.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Interesting. On what basis?

On topic, I must admit to still being curious on what basis the jury decided he didn't plan the killings. That's going to bug me for awhile.

Probably on the basis that there was no or little evidence to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. I don't know exactly what the jury heard or didn't hear but I don't believe that they had much evidence of actions preparing for a given murder. IF you add that to a jury charge that might strongly instruct them on reasonable doubt and the idea that they cannot assume something is "planned and deliberate" simply because it is repeated -- - - - then I would not be surprised if they quickly agreed on at least 2nd degree -- They might have even been split on first degree but since second degree SHOULD be enough to keep him in prison for life, the jusry might have just wanted to get back to their lives

[Flubber]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Depends. Do you have the consecutive/concurrent distinction wrt sentencing?

WE do have consecutive and concurrent but frankly I have never completely understood the basis for applying concurrent sentences. I would hope that murder would always be cosecutive such that six counts would get 6 consecutive "life" terms -- (which I think at a minimum means no chance for parole for 10 years on any given life sentence ) -- If they stack those to make it 60 years with no chance for parole, he will absolutely die in prison


If that is all true I see no point in further trials. IF there is ANY possibility of him EVER getting out, I would probably package up another 3-4 victims and get convictions on those as well.

But I really really hope that 6 murders is enough

Another approach on top of all this is to get him labelled a dangerous offender-- I cannot see how that would be difficult to obtain which would place him in prison indefinitely

[Krill]

Hmm...I think the DP may be justified here...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Krill
Hmm...I think the DP may be justified here...

If we had one that might be relevant

[Krill]

I thought you used the same DP as us?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Krill
I thought you used the same DP as us?

Canada has not had the death penalty in years and years -- I don't recall when it was abolished but it was a couple of decades ago at least

[Asher]

So the douche is eligible for parole in 25 years. The maximum sentence for 6 murders.

[Wezil]

"eligible" being the key word. Do you really think he will get it?

Canada officially abolished the death penalty in 1976 however the last executions were in 1962.

[DinoDoc]

From what little I know of your justice system, yes.

[Wezil]

Nah, like I said. Some people will never get out. We manage to keep serial killers locked up (Clifford Olsen, Paul Bernardo, etc ). Robert Willie Pickton will die in jail.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Depends. Do you have the consecutive/concurrent distinction wrt sentencing?

No. We have Dangerous Offender status.

Indefinite incarceration.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
In jail? Or sets them free?

Asher is not entirely correct.

We sent Charles Ng back knowing that the DP was in his furture.

[Dis]

Does anyone else find it unsettling that somebody who brags about killing 49(?) women can be convicted of anything but 1st degree murder?

only in Canada. Yes it is unsettling.

[Wezil]

The "confession" was actually a large issue at trial. The Crown portrayed it as just that, a confession, but the defence made a strong argument Pickton was just parroting back what the cops told him (the "stupid Willy" angle I mentioned earlier).