The Correctional Service of Canada said in a statement that Pickton, an inmate of Port-Cartier Institution in the province of Quebec, died in hospital following injuries in the May 19 assault involving another inmate. He was one of Canadaâs most notorious serial killers and his case made international headlines.
A 51-year-old inmate was in custody for the assault on Pickton, police spokesman Hugues Beaulieu said earlier this month.
Robert âWillieâ Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007, with the maximum parole ineligibility period of 25 years, after being charged with the murders of 26 women.
Police began searching the Pickton farm in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam more than 22 years ago in what would be a years-long investigation into the disappearances of dozens of women from Vancouverâs seediest streets, sex workers and drug addicts abandoned on the margins of society.
The remains or DNA of 33 women were found on Picktonâs farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. He once bragged to an undercover police officer that he killed a total of 49 women.
During his trial, prosecution witness Andrew Bellwood said Pickton told him how he strangled his victims and fed their remains to his pigs. Health officials once issued a tainted meat advisory to neighbours who might have bought pork from Picktonâs farm, concerned the meat might have contained human remains.
Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister Georgina Papin was murdered by Pickton, said Picktonâs death means she can finally move on from her sisterâs murder.
âThis is gonna bring healing for, I wonât say all families, Iâll just say most of the families,â she said. âIâm like â wow, finally. I can actually move on and heal and I can put this behind me.â
Vancouver police were criticised for not taking the cases seriously because many of the missing were sex workers or drug users.
Canada’s correctional service said it was conducting an investigation into the attack on Pickton.
âThe investigation will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault, including whether policies and protocols were followed,â the service said in the statement. âWe are mindful that this offenderâs case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims and their families. Our thoughts are with them.”
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Picktonâs confirmed victims were six: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Papin and Marnie Frey.
âEarlier today, I was made aware of the death of an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a statement. “At this time, my thoughts are with the families of the victims of this individualâs heinous crimes.â
At the time of Picktonâs sentencing, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams said it was a ârare case that properly warrants the maximum period of parole ineligibility available to the court.â