Crown May Appeal Pickton Verdict

[karrie]

ctv.ca



Crown may appeal Robert Pickton verdict

Updated Mon. Jan. 7 2008 12:35 AM ET
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER -- The B.C. Attorney General's department will announce as early as Monday whether they will appeal Robert Pickton's second-degree murder conviction in the death of six women.
A spokeman confirmed reports Wally Oppal made such an indication.
"The attorney general indicated that the criminal justice branch and the Crown would be proceeding with the appeal,'' said spokesman Shawn Robins.
"At this point in time, there are no details and no official statement has been issued.''
Published reports say an appeal will be filed.
Pickton was charged with six counts of first-degree murder of women who went missing from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The jury found him guilty of second-degree.
He was sentenced to life in prison without being eligible to apply for parole for 25 years, minus the six years he has already spent in custody.
Pickton was originally charged with 26 counts of murder but in 2005 the judge decided to separate the charges into two trials.
Today's report raises questions of whether Pickton will stand a second trial for 20 separate counts if an appeal is underway.
Hearings leading into that trial are scheduled to start this month.

 

[lone wolf]

Conviction is conviction. Petition the courts that his sentences run consecutively. A new trial might let him free the way our stupid "just us" system works....

Woof!

 

[karrie]

Well, the thing that really annoyed me is, the way our system works right now, even if they got a first degree conviction, it wouldn't change anything. He'd still serve the same amount of time from what I know. What sense does it make to add the cost of an appeal? While I understand they want the vindication of a first degree sentence, it just makes no sense to have an appeal for it. in my humble opinion.

 

[lone wolf]

Well, the thing that really annoyed me is, the way our system works right now, even if they got a first degree conviction, it wouldn't change anything. He'd still serve the same amount of time from what I know. What sense does it make to add the cost of an appeal? While I understand they want the vindication of a first degree sentence, it just makes no sense to have an appeal for it. in my humble opinion.

A valid opinion in my own opinion. That's just the government's way of saying "Well it's MY money...." There is some question whether he acted alone - and in this case, second degree is still justice. Wasn't there a time when you could only get first degree for killing a cop?

Woof!

 

[Nuggler]

A valid opinion in my own opinion. That's just the government's way of saying "Well it's MY money...." There is some question whether he acted alone - and in this case, second degree is still justice. Wasn't there a time when you could only get first degree for killing a cop?

Woof!

Yes. and Yes.

there.

Is this appeal the result of protests launched by "loved ones" of the other crack *****s who were killed, but for whos' deaths Willy may not be tried??

25 years is 25 years. WTF.!!

Very cynical I be eh wot?

:read2:Or do the lawyers need more coffee money?

 

[Kreskin]

Well, the thing that really annoyed me is, the way our system works right now, even if they got a first degree conviction, it wouldn't change anything. He'd still serve the same amount of time from what I know. What sense does it make to add the cost of an appeal? While I understand they want the vindication of a first degree sentence, it just makes no sense to have an appeal for it. in my humble opinion.

That's right. A life sentence means there is no obligation to let him go and his parole hearing date wouldn't change. This is just to get the 1st degree wall plaque.