Defence lawyers for accused serial killer Robert Pickton opened their case Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court, suggesting their client lacked the intelligence to understand the significance of his own words during an interview with police.
Pickton, a pig farmer from suburban Port Coquitlam, is currently on trial for six counts of first-degree murder.
His defence lawyer Adrian Brooks told jurors that over the next few weeks, the defence will question:
- the reliability of two key civilian witnesses;
- the significance of forensic evidence; and
- the nature of what really went on at the Port Coquitlam, B.C. farm.
The charges against Pickton are in connection to the disappearances of women from Vancouver's impoverished Downtown Eastside. The remains of six women were found on Pickton's farm -- the location of a nearly two-year search by the police for evidence in connection with their murder investigation.
Last January, the Crown opened its case with what prosecutors portrayed as damning statements Pickton made to police shortly after his arrest in February 2002. Pickton told an undercover officer he got caught because he was sloppy.
On Tuesday, Brooks addressed his client's words. He told jurors that defence lawyers will raise the possibility that Pickton's level of intelligence compromises the significance of his words.
"As you're listening to this evidence and as you will ultimately be drawing your conclusions, think not how would I respond to that, what choice would I make, but think about Mr. Pickton,'' he said.
"When you know everything about his level of intelligence, what choices he would make, what are the quality of the choices he would make in the context of those statements, with that in mind listen to the evidence we are going to call with regard to Mr. Pickton's intelligence.''
Brooks also advised jurors to consider the police's role in questioning Pickton after his arrest.
"Take into account your conclusion as to what Mr. Pickton is thinking as he's told by police that he's going to be convicted and die in prison."
Stevie Cameron, author of 'The Pickton File', told 麻豆影视net earlier Tuesday that the defence is likely to push three strategies in which they may:
- question Pickton's competence and mental abilities;
- show that his residence was "a busy hive of people coming and going"; and
- focus on other people who may have committed the crime
The defence team's case has been delayed because of ongoing legal arguments with the Crown. Details of the discussions are not being reported because of strict publication bans.
It is unclear if Pickton will testify but the defence has said that their case will last about three weeks.
After the defence rests, both sides will deliver closing arguments. The jury will begin deliberations likely some time in the fall.
The trial began Jan. 22, and has seen 98 Crown witnesses testify over more than 80 days.
Some five-and-a-half years after police took over the pig farm for their investigation, the property is expected to be back in operation as a farm in September.
The Picktons have applied for the site, a 6.1-hectare property, to be assessed as farmland.
Pickton will also face a second trial on an additional 20 murder counts. A date for the second trial has not yet been set.
He is currently on trial in connection to the deaths of Marnie Frey, Sereena Abotsway, Georgina Papin, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Wolfe and Mona Wilson.
With files from The Canadian Press
