British Columbia premier wishes serial killer Robert Pickton, who died in prison after attack, a “goodbye forever” – BC News

Photo: The Canadian Press

Serial killer Robert Pickton has died after being attacked in prison earlier this month, Quebec provincial police said. Pickton is seen in a video link to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in New Westminster, BC, in a court sketch Wednesday, May 25, 2005. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jane Wolsack

UPDATE: 16:11

British Columbia Premier David Eby says goodbye to serial killer Robert Pickton, who died Friday, two weeks after an attack in prison.

In a statement, Eby said his first thought was with the families of Pickton's victims.

“For some, the death of this notorious serial killer may bring closure, but for others it will reopen old wounds. It is a difficult day for anyone who has lost a loved one because of his cruelty and heinous crimes,” Eby said.

He discovered that Pickton was targeting the weakest in society: women who were labeled as less than equal because of their personality.

“We are determined to recognize the dignity of every human being to prevent something like this from ever happening again,” he said.

“Goodbye forever.”

Mike Farnworth, British Columbia's Minister of Public Safety and Attorney General and MP for Port Coquitlam, said while it marks the end of a “heinous life,” the news has reopened old wounds for the families of the serial killer's victims.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to support the families of the victims in finding answers and justice for their losses,” Farnworth said.

Pickton, an inmate at Quebec's Port-Cartier prison, was 74 when he died. It is said that the May 19 attack on the prison, which involved another inmate, was under investigation.

Correctional Service Canada said in a statement that Pickton's next of kin and all victims who had registered for notification had been notified of his death.

Pickton was found guilty of six counts of first-degree murder in 2007, but is suspected of killing dozens of women who disappeared from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

He once boasted to an undercover agent that he had killed 49 women.

“We recognize that this offender's case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims and their families. Our thoughts are with them,” the correctional service said.

Pickton was serving a life sentence.

Pickton was found guilty of the murders of Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Georgina Papin and Marnie Frey.

But the remains or DNA of 33 women were found on Pickton's pig farm in Port Coquitlam.

Papin's sister, Cynthia Cardinal, said Pickton's death meant she could finally put her sister's murder behind her.

“This will bring healing, I don't want to say for all families, I just want to say for most families,” she said.

“It really makes me sad that they were not allowed to appear in court. But I'm also really happy right now,” Cardinal said.

“I think to myself, wow, finally. I can actually move on and heal and put this behind me.”

Police began searching the Pickton farm more than 22 years ago. The investigation would last several years. Vancouver police were criticized for not taking the case seriously, as many of the missing people were sex workers or drug users.

ORIGINAL: 1:24 p.m.

Serial killer Robert Pickton has died after being attacked in prison earlier this month, Quebec provincial police and Correctional Service Canada said.

The correctional service said Pickton, an inmate at the Port-Cartier prison in Quebec, died Friday at the age of 74.

A statement said Pickton's next of kin and all victims who signed up for notification had been notified.

It says the May 19 attack, in which another inmate was involved, is under investigation.

Quebec provincial police spokesman Frédéric Deshaies said Pickton died “in the last hours.”

He said police are still investigating the attack that led to Pickton's death and the 51-year-old suspect is in custody.

Pickton was found guilty of six counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007 after being charged with the murder of 26 women.

A search of Pickton's pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, found the remains and DNA of 33 women, despite the killer's boast of murdering 49 women in total.

Pickton's confirmed victims were Sereena Abotsway, Marnie Frey, Andrea Joesbury, Georgina Papin, Mona Wilson and Brenda Ann Wolfe.

“We recognize that this offender's case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims and their families,” the Correctional Service told CTV News on Friday. “Our thoughts are with them.”

-With files from CTV News