Prolific offenders like Pickton must not be let out of prison

Re: `Always going to be that fear': Robert Pickton victim's relative decries day-parole chance

Last week, Robert Pickton, Canada's most prolific serial killer, became eligible for parole. As we mark another painful milestone in the story of Vancouver's missing women, we need to reflect on the continued pain and suffering of the victims and their families.

The wounds left behind by Pickton's brutal murders run deep. For those who lost loved ones, these wounds will never completely heal.

It is particularly difficult for me to see this murderer come up for parole, because I worked on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, and knew many of the victims.

Five years after Robert Pickton was arrested, I was a witness for the Crown and testified in a courtroom filled with grieving families. This is a memory I can never erase.

The Pickton trial began in January 2007 and concluded in December of the same year, making it one of Canada's longest, most expensive trials.

Prolific offenders such as Robert Pickton must stay in prison. For the families of Pickton's victims, just mentioning his name induces a profound sense of loss, pain, and anger. Their lives were forever changed by his actions, and each parole hearing serves as a painful reminder of the horrors his victims endured.

We need to reassert the importance of victims in the criminal justice process and restore balance to our justice system. This means ensuring that victims are given a meaningful voice in legal proceedings and that they receive the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives. It also means holding offenders accountable for their actions by prioritizing public safety, sentencing and parole decisions.

As Canadians we must insist that our justice system reflects our values of fairness, accountability, and compassion. We need a justice system that places the victims first and ensures that justice is served for all. It's time to rebalance the scales of justice and reaffirm our commitment to supporting victims of crime. Only then, can we truly build a safe and more just society for all Canadians.

Elaine Allan, Vancouver