AR-News: (CA) Human remains may have been in meat from Pickton farm

[Barry Kent MacKay]

Remains may have been in meat from Pickton farm

Canadian Press

March 10, 2004

VANCOUVER -  Human remains may have been in meat processed for human
consumption at the Pickton pig farm, B.C.'s provincial health officer
confirmed Wednesday.

"What I know from the RCMP is we can't rule out the possibility of
cross-contamination," Dr. Perry Kendall said in an interview with The
Canadian Press.

When asked if cross-contamination meant human remains found their way into
meat processed at the infamous farm, Kendall said:

"It's very disturbing to think about, but (there is) the possibility of some
cross-contamination. But the degree of it or when or how much we really
don't know.

"I think if we could rule it out, we definitely would like to."

Robert Pickton faces 15 counts of first-degree murder in the disappearance
of women from Vancouver's seedy Downtown Eastside.

Police have said they have found human remains and other DNA samples at the
farm Pickton owned with his brother and sister just east of Vancouver.

The latest news was yet another devastating blow for relatives of the
victims.

Lynn Frey, who was told earlier this year that her daughter Marnie's DNA had
been found at the farm, was appalled.

"It's disgusting," she said. "It's absolutely insane. How many people have
eaten something from that farm?

"Even if you did get a pig from that farm seven years ago, you think it's
going to still be in your freezer?"

And Frey added, all the police have indicated they've found of her daughter
is DNA.

"Where the heck's the rest of her body?"

She also questioned why there hasn't been a thorough Canadian Food
Inspection Agency investigation of the case.

Marc Richard, a spokesman for the agency, was caught off guard by questions
about the possible contamination. He said he was told an announcement was
planned for release Thursday.

He wouldn't comment on the case because it is part of a criminal
investigation. 

Kendall said he was asked by Health Canada to do a "worst-case assessment"
and to look into the health risk from consumption from that slaughterhouse.

"There's a very low risk of any human disease being transmitted in that
fashion," Kendall said.

Pickton, 54, is not expected to go to trial until late this year or early in
2005. 

Police executed a raid on the Pickton farm Feb. 6, 2002.

Investigators wrapped up a mass excavation and search of the property just
east of Vancouver last November. 

The charges against Pickton so far are four more than the number admitted to
by Canada's most notorious serial killer, Clifford Robert Olson. 

Cpl. Catherine Galliford of the Missing Women's Task Force would not confirm
or deny Kendall's information.

Police scheduled a news conference for later in the afternoon.

Pickton was not associated with the B.C. Hog Marketing Commission and B.C.
Pork Producers Association, said general manager Clarence Jensen.

"None of the processors we sell farmers' hogs through have dealt with this
individual," he said.

While Pickton may have bought pigs at auction, "we don't know what he did
with it," Jensen said.

"Obviously they're trying to examine what they think is evidence and not
giving a hoot about the industry." 

The RCMP-Vancouver police missing women's joint task force is expected to
comment on the development at a news conference scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.

____________________________

Barry Kent MacKay
Canadian Office
Animal Protection Institute 
www.api4animals.org