The total cost of the investigations and trial for convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton topped $100 million, according to figures released Monday by the provincial government.
In a statement published on its website, the Ministry of the Attorney General outlines the $102.8 million in expenditures in handling the mass murders of the pig farmer, breaking it down into justice and prosecution services, as well as the money that went to municipal police forces and victims.
Related: Total Pickton costs
The legal costs, including hearings at B.C. Court of Appeal, B.C. Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada, date back to 2001. Costs incurred prior to that date were not included in the report, with the ministry stating "they are not believed to be financially significant."
The majority of the costs stem from policing services, with $69.9 million earmarked for the lengthy multi-agency investigations. Policing costs in the report only represent 70 per cent of the actual RCMP costs since April 2001, with the federal government responsible for the other 30 per cent.
The second largest expenditure was for defence council funding, accounting for $11.7 million, before PST. The total dollar value of Pickton's defence counsel costs is excluded from the figures, as the amount is subject to solicitor-client privilege.
Prosecution services, including pretrial, prosecution and witness costs, cost $9.2 million, while court services and trial support took another $6.7 million.
In total, $2.4 million was spent on support services to Pickton's many victims.
More costs to come
In September, the B.C. provincial government ordered an inquiry into the flawed police investigation that allowed Pickton to hunt sex trade workers in Vancouver's impoverished Downtown Eastside. Former B.C. attorney general Wally Oppal has been named to head the probe.
Pickton was arrested in 2002, setting off a massive search of his sprawling farm where investigators found the remains or DNA of 33 women. He was charged in the deaths of 27 women and eventually convicted of six counts of second-degree murder.
During his investigation, Pickton bragged to police about killing 49 women.
