Pickton 'may not face new trial'

Pickton was found guilty of second-degree murder

A Canadian serial killer will not face a second trial on a further 20 counts of murder if he loses an appeal against his first conviction, officials say.

British Columbia Attorney General Wally Oppal said another trial of Robert Pickton would serve no purpose as he would be serving the maximum term.

The 58-year-old pig farmer was given life last year for killing six Vancouver prostitutes.

It was thought he would be tried on the further 20 counts at a later date.

Mr Oppal said that if the appeal court overturned Pickton's convictions, then the British Columbia Criminal Justice Branch would proceed with new first-degree murder charges on all 26 counts.

Pickton may face this prospect anyway as prosecutors have also appealed against the six convictions of second-degree murder.

They are calling for Pickton to face a new trial on 26 counts of first-degree murder, a more serious charge.

'Injustice'

Lilliane Beaudoin, whose sister was among those 20, told the Associated Press news agency that she was outraged Pickton may not be tried.

"To me, that's telling me I'll never actually know who committed this crime. And I will never see punishment for my sister. That's injustice" she said.

Vancouver's vanished women

Pickton's lawyers have appealed against his conviction, arguing that the judge made errors during the 10-month trial that concluded last December. He was acquitted of first-degree murder on the first six charges, but found guilty of second-degree murder - a lesser charge that means a murder was not premeditated.

Most of Pickton's victims were prostitutes and drug addicts from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Police are investigating the cases of another 40 women missing from the region.