Dropped charges result in more deaths

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A Canadian man who escaped prosecution in a 1997 attempted murder case went on to kill at least six women before he was arrested and convicted, a report said.

Robert Pickton, of Vancouver, British Columbia, was charged with attempted murder of a prostitute in 1997, but the case was not prosecuted because a judge ruled the victim wasn't a credible witness, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Thursday.

Officials now know Pickton was a serial killer who killed at least six women after the 1997 case was dropped, and may have killed more than 20, CBC News reported.

The woman Pickton attacked in 1997 testified in a 2003 preliminary hearing, but her testimony was deemed irrelevant and her testimony was not allowed. In a subsequent trial, Pickton was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

The gag order was lifted this week after the court said it would not pursue an additional 20 murder charges against Pickton. A raft of controversial material relevant to his conviction is now expected to be made public, the CBC reported.

The name of the 1997 homicide victim remains protected.