Pickton’s safety likely behind Quebec move, says ex-prison judge

When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia’s Kent Institution to a maximum-security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.But Darryl Plecas, a former prison judge at Kent who went on to be Speaker of the B.C. Legislature, said Wednesday he thinks he knows why – Pickton’s safety was likely at risk at Kent.Pickton is now in a Quebec City hospital with what police there called life-threatening injuries. Correctional Service Canada said Pickton, who was being held at the Port-Cartier Institution, about 480 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, was the victim of a “major assault” that did not involve guards on Sunday.