British Columbia: A judge at the Supreme Court said no to families of Robert Pickton’s victims who wanted to manage evidence from his case.
Thirteen people asked to be involved to make sure important evidence in their cases against Robert and David Pickton was kept safe. The RCMP has about 15,000 items taken from Pickton’s home between 2002 and 2003.
The RCMP disagreed, saying they must keep evidence for their investigations. They suggested giving items to 11 of the 13 families who could prove ownership.
The judge agreed with the RCMP, saying the families’ concerns could be handled in other ways, like their ongoing lawsuits. He promised the families would be told if the RCMP wanted to get rid of any evidence and might let them speak in court.
The families’ lawyer, Jason Gratl, said they were okay with the decision because they can still be informed and heard when needed. The families are suing Robert and David Pickton in nine cases.
Robert Pickton died in May after being attacked in prison. He was in jail for killing six women and was linked to the deaths or disappearances of many others.