The defence will start presenting its evidence at the murder trial of Robert Pickton when court resumes in New Westminster, B.C. on Monday.
The accused, a pig farmer from suburban Port Coquitlam, B.C., is on trial for six counts of first-degree murder.
He is charged in the deaths of Marnie Frey, Sereena Abotsway, Georgina Papin, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Wolfe and Mona Wilson.
Prosecutors rested their case earlier this month, after some seven months of Crown evidence.
Defence lawyer Adrian Brooks has said Pickton's legal team will be calling witnesses.
However, he didn't say who would be called.
"They say they have three weeks worth of witnesses," said journalist Stevie Cameron, author of "The Pickton File."
"The most interesting witness, whose name I've heard, could be David Pickton, Robert Pickton's brother. I don't know that for sure, but the rumour mill is very strong on this," Cameron told CTV's Canada AM.
If that is the case, it would mark the first time any of Robert Pickton's friends or family members have come into court for him, Cameron said.
It's unclear, however, whether Pickton himself will testify as the defence is not obliged to call him to the stand.
In his opening statement back in January, lead defence lawyer Peter Ritchie told the jury that his client neither killed nor participated in the killing of the six women.
As the Crown's case progressed, the defence used cross-examination to suggest other people should be considered as suspects.
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 will 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.
Most of the site will be designated for cattle.
Pickton will also face a second trial on an additional 20 murder counts. A date for the second trial has not yet been set.
