Woman who was stabbed by Robert Pickton won’t testify at Missing Women Inquiry

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A woman who escaped an attack by serial killer Robert Pickton 15 years ago won’t be testifying at the Missing Women Inquiry.

The woman, who can only be identified as Ms. Anderson, told the commission she’s still too traumatized.

She was stabbed by Pickton in a knife fight in 1997 but managed to escape.

He was never prosecuted because Crown worried about Anderson’s drug use affected her testimony.

Pickton was arrested for murder five years later.

Anderson says she didn’t want to testify at the inquiry because she wants to put the past behind her. Commission lawyers say they don’t want to pressure Anderson and her testimony is not crucial.

However, lawyers for missing and murdered women stress that Anderson’s decision to sit the inquiry out throws a wrench into the case.

Pickton’s arrest in 2002 set off a massive search of his farm in Port Coquitlam, where the remains or DNA of 33 women were found.

He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder, though he once told an undercover police officer that he killed 49 women.

Meanwhile, critics of Missing Women Inquiry are telling the commissioner they won’t rejoin the group.

Earlier this month, Wally Oppal urged his critics to put forward ideas for him to consider as he crafts the recommendations that will be included in his final report. But a collection of 15 advocacy groups have released an open letter to Oppal, in which they condemn the inquiry. The groups were denied provincial government funding to hire lawyers.

The hearings are expected to last into May, followed by a less-formal study commission examining the broader issues affecting sex workers. Oppal will complete his final report June 30.

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