A man who worked for accused killer Robert William Pickton told the B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster on Tuesday that his former boss was a caring, generous person who was always looking out for others.

Gerald McLaughlin lived in a motorhome on Pickton's pig farm in Port Coquitlam, B.C., for almost two years — beginning in 1998 — working as a general labourer on the farm by day and serving as a watchman at night.

"He always, you know, gave a helping hand," McLaughlin told the jury of seven men and five women.

Pickton is facing 26 counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of women from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Six of the charges are being handled at the current trial, which began in January, while the other 20 charges are expected to be dealt with at a subsequent trial.

Pickton, who was arrested in 2002, has pleaded not guilty.

McLaughlin told the court that Pickton was always looking out for him, even when McLaughlin would spend all his money on beer.

"I think he knew I had a problem and he always tried to steer me away from it and make sure I got fed and was good to go for work," McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin recounted how Pickton was always keeping tabs on people at parties at Piggy's Palace, an infamous unlicensed bar run by Pickton's brother Dave on a nearby property. McLaughlin, who attended a few of the parties, said Pickton had a role to play even if he wasn't involved in planning the events, which usually included food, drinking and a live band.

"You know he didn’t want to see anyone drive home drunk or get into a car accident, so he always put forth an effort to give people a ride home,” McLaughlin said.
 
McLaughlin described Pickton as a shy "right down to basics kind of guy" who was a little socially awkward. He said work and the farm were Pickton's life.

Never witnessed anything unusual at Pickton's

On Monday, McLaughlin told the court he never saw anything on Pickton's property that seemed suspicious.

Defence lawyer Patrick McGowan prodded him on the issue.
 
"Looking back now, sir, knowing what you have heard can you think of anything we should know, anything that might relate to these charges?" McGowan asked.
 
McLaughlin replied: "I can't think of anything off hand. I never witnessed or seen anything unusual going on on the farm.”

Pickton is on trial for the murders of Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Wolfe, Marnie Frey and Georgina Papin — all women who went missing from the Downtown Eastside between 1997 and 2001.

The jury heard earlier in the trial that investigators found DNA and bloodstains linked to Wilson on a mattress inside the motorhome where McLaughlin had lived.