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Alleged Victim's Daughter Arrives for Pickton Trial Feeling "Scared."

Posted on: Monday, 22 January 2007, 15:00 CST

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. (CP) - The daughter of one of the women Robert Pickton is accused of killing arrived at court today feeling a little scared and nervous.

Brittney Frey, 14, said she was at the courthouse to seek justice and accountability.

"I'm here for her and for the other family members to support them," said Frey, who looks strikingly like her mother, Marnie. She said she's also there to support Lynn Frey, Marnie's stepmother who is also raising Brittney.

"We just all need to be here together," said the slim teenager, who wore white hightops and a grey windbreaker. Lynn Frey said she had to come to court, but she said whatever she hears during the case, it won't give her what she wants most.

"I just wish she (Marnie) could come home with me but I can't have that."

Pickton is charged with killing 26 women from Vancouver's gritty Downtown Eastside.

The court is hearing evidence in the deaths of six of them first. The remaining 20 will be heard at a later date.

For the first time, details in the case will be made public today as the Crown and defence deliver opening statements.

Jurors have already been warned by the judge that what they hear will be horrific.

The case has received saturation coverage locally and television and radio stations delivered their morning programs live from in front of the courthouse.

More than 300 reporters from Canada, the U.S. and Britain are accredited to cover the trial.

Seating for the public in the tiny courtroom where Pickton will appear is limited to only 13. Family members, the media and Victims Services workers have another 37 seats.

But against most expectations, it appeared few members of the public were keen to get in Monday.

The line to get through security was mostly full of reporters and family members of the alleged victims.

One woman who arrived at the courthouse on another matter was astonished to see the media tents and security line-ups.

She demanded to know what was going on and when told testimony in the Pickton trial was beginning, she answered only: "Oh God."

She walked away and got in the security line.

The trial actually began a year ago when arguments under a publication ban began.

The case is expected to continue for another year.

Jurors are hearing evidence about the deaths of Mona Wilson, Brenda Wolfe, Marnie Frey, Sereena Abotsway, Andrea Joesbury and Georgina Papin.

Source: Canadian Press

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