The B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled against a plaintiff’s attempt to prevent police from sending evidence from the pig farm of serial killer Robert Pickton to the BC Coroners Service. Sarah Jean de Vries, a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit related to the case, sought to preserve human remains evidence for the lawsuit. However, Justice Alan Ross dismissed the bid, stating that preserving the remains for a civil trial went against the legislation governing the handling of bodies.
The ruling revealed that the BC Coroners Service issued a seizure order to the RCMP for human remains evidence found at the farm property. Despite claims of collusion and attempts to prevent evidence destruction, the court upheld the decision to allow the coroner to test and dispose of the evidence. The court highlighted the importance of treating human remains with dignity and stated that the remains were not essential for the plaintiff to advance her claim.
While the criminal investigation is closed, police still hold numerous unidentified evidence samples, with the coroner ordering their release. Legal proceedings surrounding the case have faced delays due to procedural issues, including uncertainties regarding Pickton’s estate. Another inmate, Martin Charest, recently pleaded guilty to the murder of Robert Pickton.
The lawsuits filed against David Pickton, Robert’s brother, allege that he failed in his duty to warn women entering the farm property where the murders occurred. With several legal battles ongoing, the progress of the lawsuits and the involvement of Pickton’s estate remain uncertain.