Brian Hutchinson has written an excellent article in today’s National Post that summarizes some of the evidence before the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.  The first paragraph reads:

“It was April 2000, the height of Robert “Willie” Pickton’s killing spree. Dozens of women were already missing, and 23 more would vanish. The Port Coquitlam pig farmer was trolling for skid row prostitutes, driving them to his farm, murdering them, disposing of their bodies and going back for more. He would continue this horrible pattern for at least another year, and right under the noses of police.”

The Pickton brothers' Dominion Ave. property: Ian Lindsay, Postmedia News

After noting that Pickton became a prime suspect of both the RCMP and VPD in August of 1998, Hutchinson writes:

“Perhaps most telling, on April 25, 2000, RCMP officers were already discussing the possibility that bungled police efforts would lead to a public inquiry.

On that date, a staff sergeant named Brad Zalys had a conversation with a superior officer, RCMP Inspector Earl Moulton. Staff Sgt. Zalys made the following observation in his notebook: “Also discussed Pickton again–>if he turns out to be responsible–>inquiry!–>Deal with that if the time comes!”

What led Staff Sgt. Zalys, Inspector Moulton, and others to such a state? What did they know? Why hadn’t Pickton been stopped by then? And why did B.C.’s criminal justice branch decide, in 1998, to stay proceedings against the loathsome pig farmer, after he’d been charged with attempting to murder a prostitute on his pig farm?

The present inquiry, led by former B.C. attorney general Wally Oppal, has a mandate to find out all of that, and to recommend changes to the way police homicide investigations are conducted.”

Robert William Pickton was not stopped until February 5, 2002.  By then he had participated in as many as 49 murders.

The Commission adjourned for today at 1:00 p.m., and in a surprise announcement, Commission Counsel Art Vertlieb then said that there would be no session on Monday, January 23, 2012, contrary to earlier indications. He apparently isn’t prepared to put a witness on the stand Monday.

Counsel presenting a case is usually expected to have witnesses lined up and ready to go so that all valuable time set aside for a hearing is used and days are not wasted.

In this hearing, the schedule continues to be very unpredictable, creating difficulties for us and other counsel.

Today, Commissioner Oppal granted a request made by Richard Peck, Q.C., one of several lawyers recently appointed to represent police witnesses, to adjourn the testimony of Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Constable Jennifer Evans to a later date in order to enable the newly retained lawyers to prepare to ask her their questions.

For those trying to keep track of all the police lawyers and their clients, the following is our best attempt at a current list.  There may actually be more police lawyers involved than the 17 listed below:

RCMP: Cheryl Tobias, Q.C., Jan Brongers, Judith Hoffman and Andrew Majawa

Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Police Board: Sean Hern and Tim Dickson

Vancouver Police Union: David Crossin, Q.C.

Dr. Kim Rossmo (ex-VPD): Mark Skwarok

Doug Fell (VPD): Kevin Woodall and Claire Hatcher

Don Adam (ex RCMP): Janet Winteringham, Q.C.

Gary Bass (ex RCMP): Richard Peck, Q.C.

Earl Moulton (RCMP): Ravi Hira, Q.C.

Brian McGuiness (VPD): Greg DelBigio, Q.C.

Terry Blythe and John Unger (ex VPD): Edward Greenspan, Q.C.

Brock Giles (VPD): David Butcher

Gary Greer (VPD): Rick Henderson

Peel Regional Police: Linda Bordeleau

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Background: Attorney General Mike deJong announced the creation of the Commission on September 29, 2010 and provided terms of reference that required it to deliver a report to the government by December 31, 2011. The Commission did not commence evidentiary hearings until October 11, 2011.  The government’s deadline was later extended to June 30, 2012. The Commissioner is Wallace T. Oppal, Q.C., a former judge and Attorney General.  The Executive Director is John Boddie, a former VPD sergeant who served with the VPD for 16 years. Neil Chantler and I represent the families of 25 women who went missing and were subsequently murdered.  From our clients’ point of view, the key factual questions encompassed by the terms of reference are: 1) Why were the attempted murder and other serious charges against Robert William Pickton dropped after his attack on a Vancouver sex trade worker in 1997? and 2) Why did the VPD and RCMP, who considered Pickton a prime suspect in the disappearances of Sarah deVries and other Vancouver women from August 1998, fail to stop or apprehend him until the RCMP accidentally found evidence, on February 5, 2002, that he had murdered as many as 49 women? 

The Commission has not yet heard testimony from any police officer who was actively involved in the investigations, although former VPD geographic profiler Dr. Kim Rossmo is scheduled to appear on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

This morning, there were five new lawyers in the room as the Commission anticipated hearing the testimony of Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Jennifer Evans.  This was another surprise for Mr. Chantler and myself.  Rick Peck, Q.C. appeared as counsel for Gary Bass, David Butcher appeared for Brock Giles, Rick Henderson appeared for Gary Greer, Ravi Hira, Q.C. appeared for Earl Moulton and Linda Bordeleau appeared for the Peel Regional Police.  Toronto lawyer Edward Greenspan, Q.C. is apparently still planning to attend and cross-examine DC Evans, but we still do not know who he represents.

At the end of the day, Greg DelBigio stood up and introduced himself as counsel for “a client”.  We don’t know who he represents either.  We’ve asked Commission Counsel Art Vertlieb to shed some light on these mysteries, but he has declined to do so thus far.

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Update: Greg DelBigio has advised he represents Brian McGuiness.

Further update: Edward Greenspan, Q.C. has advised he is representing Terry Blythe and John Unger.