NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - Excerpts from the opening statement by Crown counsel Derrill Prevett at Robert Pickton's first-degree murder trial:
"During the afternoon and evening of Feb. the 22nd Mr. Pickton and the undercover officer came to know each other. The officer related his cover story to the effect that he was in custody awaiting transport back East to face outstanding charges for violent offences. Mr. Pickton explained that he'd been arrested for two murder charges and that the police are looking at him for 47 others. In the course of telling (the officer) about his past Mr. Pickton repeatedly tells his cellmate that he believes he is nailed to the cross. He also tells him he is being considered as a mass murderer, his words, you'll hear them.''
"The interview begins with Sgt. Fordy speaking with Mr. Pickton and the accused explains to Sgt. Fordy that his trade is a butcher, he butchers pigs, he has been doing it since he was 13 years old and he describes roughly how he does it. As an aside, there'll be evidence that he would sometimes have the assistance of his friend, a man called Pat Casanova, when he butchered pigs and the Crown anticipates that Mr. Casanova will testify at his trial. When you see and hear this portion of the interview you'll see it's marked by the accused's denial. He claims he knows none of the women with whom he is being investigated. He states that he knows nothing and that he is just a pig farmer.''
"Staff Sgt. Adam asked him about the photos of women displayed on a large poster board which has been brought into the interview room and asks him `how many do you think you recognize. Like if you were free to talk right now how many could you reach out and touch. No. but I mean, that you killed.' Mr. Pickton responds `you make me more of a mass murderer than I am'.''
"Some minutes later Staff Sgt. Adam suggests to Mr. Pickton that the reason Mr. Pickton finds himself in this situation is that he didn't do a very good job in cleaning up a girl's blood. You'll hear Mr. Pickton respond `that's right, I was sloppy.' Mr. Pickton goes on to say that bad policing is the reason why it took so long to catch him. Staff Sgt. Adam questions him about his motives for killing and whether he ever thought of quitting and Mr. Pickton states that he had one more planned but that was the end of it. `I was going to shut it down. That's when I was just sloppy, just the last one'.''
"In furthering his cover story (the undercover officer) tells Mr. Pickton that the police have him (the officer) on an attempt murder charge and are investigating him for others as well. Mr. Pickton responds `but you're nothing like mine'. The officer tells him he is looking at some serious time if the police are able to put things together. Mr. Pickton then gestures with his hands showing five with the fingers on one hand and a zero on the other. (The officer) asks `what's that, five, zero, 50, ha ha.' Moments later Mr. Pickton verbalizes what he had earlier gestured. He says `I was going to do one more. Make it an even 50'.''
