Pickton conviction faces two appeals

by Kaitlin | January 10, 2008 at 01:45 pm

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As expected, the conviction of Robert "Willie" Pickton has been appealed on grounds of errors made by judge Justice James Williams (including the manner in which he instructed the jury and some evidence presented). The appeal today by Pickton's defence team follows one filed by the Crown earlier this week.

The appeal in a case this size will be complex and could take as long as 1 1/2 years before it's heard, Ritchie said.

The relief sought by the defence is a new trial on six counts of second-degree murder.

The Crown's appeal -- filed earlier this week -- asks that, if Pickton is granted a new trial, he be tried on first-degree murder on all 26 counts at once.

The Crown and defence will be in court Jan. 24 to discuss a trial date for Pickton's outstanding 20 charges.