Pickton appears by video as families seek to bring in public inquiry report

VANCOUVER – The families of several women whose remains or DNA were found on Robert Pickton’s property are asking a court to adopt the findings of a public inquiry in an ongoing civil lawsuit.

The children of nine murdered women are suing the City of Vancouver, the B.C. government, and Pickton himself, at a hearing where Pickton is watching the proceedings by video.

The families want a B.C. Supreme Court judge to conclude the factual findings of a public inquiry report that was released in December 2012 should be binding on the governments.

Their lawyer, Jason Gratl, says the inquiry heard extensive evidence and made numerous findings about what happened when the Vancouver police and the RCMP investigated reports of missing women in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Gratl says it would be a waste of time for the court to now hear the same evidence as the inquiry.

Pickton, who’s straggly blonde hair is now shaved bald, is appearing by video from Kent Institution, southeast of Vancouver.

Pickton has not yet addressed the court, other than to say he didn’t care whether he was present for this week’s proceedings, but he will have the opportunity to speak later.