Serial killer Robert Pickton, attacked on May 19 at the Port-Cartier penitentiary, on the North Shore, died of his injuries.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) confirmed Friday that a “74-year-old man” involved in an attempted murder earlier this month has died.
“The detainee’s relatives have been informed. We also communicated with registered victims, in accordance with their notification preferences,” indicates Correctional Service of Canada, in a press release issued late in the afternoon.
The agency goes on to explain that police and the coroner were notified of the inmate’s death, as required by its policy.
The latest news was that Robert Pickton had been transferred to a hospital in Quebec where he had fallen into an induced coma following the attack and doctors planned to try to eventually wake him up.
Robert Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007; he had been accused of murdering 26 women in British Columbia.
Correctional Service Canada then indicated that his alleged attacker had been identified and the SQ later clarified that the 51-year-old suspect was in custody.
The latter, Martin Charest, whose identity was revealed by TVA Nouvelles, has a long criminal record, in particular for having attacked fellow prisoners on numerous occasions.
The SQ’s Crimes Against Persons Division is now responsible for the criminal investigation which continues, said Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Frédéric Deshaies on Friday.
Correctional Service of Canada indicates for its part that an administrative investigation will also be launched in order to “examine all the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault in order to determine, among other things, whether the policies and protocols were respected.” “It will also aim to make recommendations and suggest corrective measures, if necessary,” continues the agency.
“We recognize that this offender’s case has had a terrible impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous people, victims and their families. Our thoughts are with them,” concludes Correctional Service of Canada.