By Marilyn Bardsley
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. (Crime Library) — The excitement and high drama attending the opening of Robert Pickton's trial disappeared yesterday as the publication ban went into effect.
News organizations complained vigorously about the antiquated ban on having cameras in the courtroom, which effectively removes the public from hearing what goes on during the trial. For a trial of such a sensational and controversial case as this one is, the publications ban is particularly onerous.
The Edmonton Sun ran an editorial calling for an end to the ban, urging the court to locate "one small camera discreetly located in the back of a courtroom and operated by remote control and one still photographer providing pool coverage to interested media organization wouldn't result in chaos in the courtroom. Open courts should be just that open to the entire public, not just reporters and the interested spectators."
Monday, the accused serial killer Robert Pickton pleaded not-guilty to first degree murder charges of 27 women, many of whom were prostitutes.
The next phase of the trial is the voir dire, which in Canadameans lengthy arguments on which evidence can be admitted. In this particular case, it is expected to go on for months.
It's astonishing that it has taken four years to even begin the trial on crimes that began in the 1980s when prostitutes began to disappear off the streets of Vancouver. Like in the Green River murder case in Seattle, Vancouver law enforcement took its time even admitting that a serial killer was operating. Then, they ignored tips that pointed to Pickton. Finally in 2002, police went to the Pickton farm and began to dig up the victims he had buried there. No rush to judgment here.
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