Robert Pickton pleaded not guilty on Saturday to six counts of first-degree murder as jury selection began for a trial that is expected to get underway in January.

An artist's sketch of accused serial killer Robert Pickton as he pleads not guilty to charges Saturday.
(Jane Wolsak/Canadian Press)

The one-time pig farmer from the Vancouver-area community of Port Coquitlam stood and softly said "not guilty" as each of the names of his alleged victims was read out in B.C. Supreme Court.

He entered the pleas after hundreds of potential jurors filed into the court in New Westminster to listen to instructions from Justice James Williams for a selection process that could last two weeks.

In attendance were nearly 500 prospective jurors who were chosen to report for jury duty in the Pickton case.

After a briefing, they were to be divided into groups of 30 to return on Monday to help choose 12 regular jury members and two alternates.

Prosecutor Stan Lowe said all sides are going to work hard to find jurors who are in good health, understand the proceedings and are motivated to be there for a trial that is expected to last one year.

Lowe told CBC News that in long trials such as this one, there is always a concern about keeping jurors for the duration. 

Clockwise from top left: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Wolfe, Georgina Papin and Marnie Frey.

"With the procedural safeguards at the outset and under our code, we're allowed to go down to as few as 10 jury members that can deliberate and reach a verdict. I want to be positive about the fact that we can do that."

But if the jury goes down to nine, a mistrial will be called and the whole process will start again.

Pickton was arrested in February 2002. If there are no delays, his trial will begin on Jan. 8.

He is accused of killing Mona Wilson, Sereena Abotsway, Andrea Joesbury, Georgina Papin, Brenda Wolfe and Marnie Frey. They were all from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

The jurors will be paid $20 a day at first and after more than two months, they'll get $100 a day.

With files from the Canadian Press