CPT Robert Pickton final 
Isabella Germanese
Mrs. Mariani
CLN4U1b
Monday, December 15, 2014
The Case of Robert Pickton: Failure in Canada’s Judicial System
Robert Willie Pickton is famously known as the serial killer who would hunt prostitutes on the streets of Vancouver and lure them back on his farm, where he lived with his brother Dave Pickton. Beginning in 1978, women around the city had been disappearing mysteriously. However, Robert Pickton was not arrested until Feburary 22nd 2002, and was eventually sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years for the disappearance and murder of six prostitutes in the Vancouver area. He later admitted to killing 49 women, and was extremely upset that he was caught and incarcerated before he could make it to an even 50. The RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department had over twenty years to explore the disappearances of these women. The police investigation during this time period with regard to this particular case was very weak and lacked effort, communication and power. The investigation that involved Robert Pickton did not begin until late 1998, twenty years after the first disappearance. It continued until 2002 when enough evidence was finally gathered to have Pickton arrested. Although the criminal justice system is structured to find and detain felons as quickly as possible, it will be proven that due to the systemic failures of the Canadian justice system, serial killer Robert Pickton was able to commit repeated offences over many years.
Torturous, repulsive and gruesome are only a few words that can describe Robert Pickton’s twenty yearlong murder spree. Robert Pickton was born on October 26th, 1949 in Port Coquitlam, only a twenty-minute drive away from Vancouver’s downtown eastside where Pickton would eventually abduct his victims. Pickton grew up on a pig farm with his brother and sister and they were raised by their mother; His father constantly abused his family and ultimately abandoned them. Pickton slowly developed a
Mrs. Mariani
CLN4U1b
Monday, December 15, 2014
The Case of Robert Pickton: Failure in Canada’s Judicial System
Robert Willie Pickton is famously known as the serial killer who would hunt prostitutes on the streets of Vancouver and lure them back on his farm, where he lived with his brother Dave Pickton. Beginning in 1978, women around the city had been disappearing mysteriously. However, Robert Pickton was not arrested until Feburary 22nd 2002, and was eventually sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years for the disappearance and murder of six prostitutes in the Vancouver area. He later admitted to killing 49 women, and was extremely upset that he was caught and incarcerated before he could make it to an even 50. The RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department had over twenty years to explore the disappearances of these women. The police investigation during this time period with regard to this particular case was very weak and lacked effort, communication and power. The investigation that involved Robert Pickton did not begin until late 1998, twenty years after the first disappearance. It continued until 2002 when enough evidence was finally gathered to have Pickton arrested. Although the criminal justice system is structured to find and detain felons as quickly as possible, it will be proven that due to the systemic failures of the Canadian justice system, serial killer Robert Pickton was able to commit repeated offences over many years.
Torturous, repulsive and gruesome are only a few words that can describe Robert Pickton’s twenty yearlong murder spree. Robert Pickton was born on October 26th, 1949 in Port Coquitlam, only a twenty-minute drive away from Vancouver’s downtown eastside where Pickton would eventually abduct his victims. Pickton grew up on a pig farm with his brother and sister and they were raised by their mother; His father constantly abused his family and ultimately abandoned them. Pickton slowly developed a
Cited: Cameron, Stevie. On the Farm: Robert William Pickton and the Tragic Story of Vancouver 's Missing Women. Toronto: A.A. Knopf Canada, 2010. Print. Culbert, Lori. Vanouver Sun. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Pickton murders Explosive evidence jury never heard/3360225/story.html>. LePARD, Doug. "Investigation Review Summary Report." 1 Aug. 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://vancouver.ca/police/media/2010/mw-summary-report.pdf>. MacQueen, Ken. "How Serial Killer Robert Pickton Slipped Away - Macleans.ca."Macleansca. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/how-a-serial-killer-slipped-away/>. News, CBC. "Pickton Trial Timeline."CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 9 Aug. 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/pickton-trial-timeline-1.927418>. News, CBC. "Pickton Inquiry Slams 'blatant Failures ' by Police - British Columbia - CBC News." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pickton-inquiry-slams-blatant-failures-by-police-1.1191108>. Oppal, Wally. 9 Nov. 2012. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.missingwomeninquiry.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Forsaken-Vol-2A-web-RGB.pdf>.