Robert William Pickton told an RCMP officer planted in his jail cell after the B.C. farmer's arrest in 2002 that authorities were trying to "bury" him with 50 murders, the jury in Vancouver's missing women's case heard on Monday.

The lengthy conversation between Pickton and the officer, whose identity is protected under a publication ban, was secretly videotaped and shown in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.

"I’m screwed, tattooed, nailed to the cross, and now I’m a mass murderer," Pickton told the officer at one point during the lengthy conversation, which was secretly videotaped and shown to the jury at the start of the third week of the first-degree murder trial.

During their conversation, Pickton also told the undercover officer some stories from his childhood and how he planned to get out of pig farming, but said he "wouldn't change myself much."

"Yeah, well, sounds like you led a … good life though, like you said," the officer said.

"I have no life," Pickton replied. "Now they’re trying to bury me. Now the farm buries me."

In its opening statement two weeks ago, the Crown told the jury this video contains statements pointing to Pickton's guilt.

The statements, lawyers had said, concern the number 50, and Pickton making reference to doing one more, to make it an even 50.

Pickton, 57, is being tried in the murder of six women who disappeared from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Pickton unwashed, officer testifies

The Mountie told the court Monday that Pickton was unkempt and dirty when he was brought into the cell at the RCMP's Surrey detachment. 

He said a cover story had been concocted in advance, and that he was playing the role of a man wanted in Ontario for attempted murder. A video camera was planted in the cell to record their conversation.

The conversation between Pickton and the undercover officer took place after Pickton was arrested and charged with two murders in February 2002.

Pickton faces a total of 26 counts of first-degree murder, but is only being tried for six initially, to reduce the burden on the jury. The other 20 charges will be dealt with at another trial later. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The first trial is expected to last about a year, with the Crown saying it intends to prove that Pickton killed the six women and disposed of their remains at his farm in suburban Port Coquitlam.