Province orders public inquiry into case of Robert Pickton and missing women

by Stephen Thomson on September 9th, 2010 at 4:15 PM

The B.C. government says a public inquiry will be held to review both the investigation that led to the conviction of Port Coquitlam serial killer Robert Pickton and how police handle cases of missing women.

Attorney general Michael de Jong announced the move today (September 9) following widespread calls for an inquiry.

“The commissioner who will head the inquiry and terms of reference will be announced when they are finalized,” reads a brief news release from the Ministry of Attorney General.

Both Vancouver police and the RCMP have issued statements this afternoon welcoming the announcement.

“There is significant public interest in an impartial examination of all the facts surrounding this tragedy,” the Vancouver police statement reads.

“The families and loved ones of Pickton’s victims deserve to know why it took so long to arrest him,” the statement continues.

“In addition, this is an opportunity to examine any systemic barriers to the most effective policing in the Lower Mainland and to look for solutions so that some good might come out of such sadness.”

Meanwhile, the RCMP expressed hope the inquiry process will bring closure for the families of the victims and help improve policing.

“The RCMP will participate fully in the inquiry and all of our members and employees who are requested as witnesses will give their evidence under oath during this process,” the RCMP statement reads.

The RCMP also signalled the force has plans to respond as part of the inquiry to a recently released 400-page report authored by VPD deputy chief Doug LePard.

LePard’s report casts a critical light on how police handled the investigation that led to Pickton’s eventual arrest in 2002 and conviction in 2007 on six second-degree murder counts.

Comments

5 Comments

ds

Sep 9, 2010 at 5:43pm

That's fine and over due, but why don't we have one for the HST and BC rail. All they want is to get peoples minds off the latter.

Don H

Sep 9, 2010 at 7:41pm

Well I think this is going to get very interesting as the Vancouver City Police have admitted they "screwed-up" and will do their best to not let it happen again. Of the report done by the VCP the RCMP initially said there were parts they didn't agree with as they had done a report of their own that found they had done nothing wrong. Well seeing as most things the RCMP are doing is laughable and now saying they welcome this inquiry what do you think is going to happen? I am betting on a "cirlce the wagons" position immediately and only a appearance of co-operation but in reality a total lack of co-operation. If this inquiry is not VERY broad ranging then the provincial gov't is just trying to protect the RCMP from further embarassment. I think the key point will be who is appointed to lead the inquiry, hopefully someone who has the "intestinal fortitude" and character of Mr Braidwood. That man did a marvellous job and never allowed himself to be intimidated by the lack of co-operation of the RCMP. IMHO I believe this inquiry will be ANOTHER disaster for the RCMP.

glen p robbins

Sep 9, 2010 at 9:06pm

Although I agree with ds - I give credit where it should be - good decision Mike

Don H

Sep 10, 2010 at 7:53am

The first thing we must all remember is that all of these women were a important part of society and not "cannon fodder" to use a military term. Their social and economic status should hot have been any influence in how this case was handled but it was. I think the most troubling thing to me was the feeling I always had that they were really not that important in the big picture. We can only hope that the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth comes out of this inquiry.