VANCOUVER, B.C. - Only a handful of people turned out Tuesday at a planned memorial to mark the one-year anniversary of serial killer Robert Pickton's conviction for six counts of murder.
The memorial to his victims and the dozens of other women who have disappeared over the years from the notorious Downtown Eastside was planned in a park only a few blocks from the sex-trade strolls once haunted by those Pickton is accused of killing.
About 15 members of the media showed up, but few of the women's friends and family braved a wet, dreary day to acknowledge the grim milestone.
"We want the world to know that on this day and on every Dec. 9 we'll gather here acknowledging our people that have gone missing and are being continually murdered," said Jayson Fleury, who wore a poster around his neck with a picture of his deceased half-sister Mona Wilson.
Wilson is one of the six women Pickton was convicted of killing when his trial ended a year ago. He was found not guilty of first-degree murder but was convicted of second-degree murder.
Fleury blamed the inclement weather for the poor turnout.
"I think the rain prevented a lot of people from coming out today," he said. "I wasn't even going to come out today until I heard there was a bunch of media folks here."
The turnout didn't matter, said Fleury.
"I'm here and you guys (media) are here, and a few supporters."
Quietly, one woman later walked into the park and placed a poem at a marker dedicating the site, officially known as Portside Park.
"I knew some of the women," said Selina Barton. "I come here almost every morning.
"I thought there would be more people here. A lot of the women I knew died on the Downtown Eastside."
Pickton was convicted of killing Wilson, Marnie Frey, Georgina Papin, Brenda Wolfe, Sereena Abotsway and Andrea Joesbury.
He could face 20 more murder charges depending on the outcome of appeals in the case that will be heard by the B.C. Court of Appeal in March.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment and will not be eligible to apply for parole for 25 years.
Ernie Crey, whose sister Dawn disappeared from the Downtown Eastside eight years ago, has always wondered why Pickton was not charged in connection with her disappearance.
In January 2004 police held a news conference to announce that remains of several women had been found on the Pickton property, including Dawn Crey.
Ernie Crey subsequently asked the Crown why no charges were laid in connection to his sister when that did happen with other remains.
He said police told him they had found DNA matching Dawn Crey and some other women but there was insufficient evidence to lay charges.
He now worries that if the Appeal Court upholds the six convictions, "that's where it's all going to end."
"It will leave my family in a position of being faced with the knowledge that we'll never know what became of Dawn."
