THE ADVOCATE 755
VOL. 79 PART 5 SEPTEMBER 2021
the day, there was much socializing in the evening. Through this socializing,
her colleagues were able to see this fun, less serious side. What a revelation!
Conference fun was not limited to the annual Crown counsel event, but
from time to time road trips were taken for the National Criminal Law Conferences,
to Montreal, P.E.I. and Victoria, and later on occasion to International
Homicide Investigator Association Conferences. She also played an
impressive role in spearheading the “cheap but good wine club” at the office.
In 2004, Satinder was asked to join the team tasked with prosecuting
Robert Pickton, a notorious serial killer charged with 27 counts of first
degree murder. Satinder knew that joining this prosecution team would be
a significant commitment and come with additional pressures; however,
she was keen to take on this new challenge. During her time on the Pickton
team, Satinder impressed her colleagues and the police investigators with
her commitment, diligence and enormous capacity for work.
The case was, as expected, all-consuming, and the trial went longer than
anticipated. Satinder and her husband, Randy, had scheduled a vacation to
Argentina to follow the verdict, but due to the delay in the case completing,
the vacation had to be rescheduled several times. She could have left sooner
but insisted on remaining in New Westminster until the case ended. Eventually
the trip could not be postponed any longer; Satinder and Randy
boarded a flight to Argentina during the jury deliberations and finally
learned of the hard-earned result at the airport in Buenos Aires.
Following the conclusion of the Pickton case, Satinder returned to conducting
serious prosecutions in New Westminster. Most cases were complex
homicides. Satinder continued to impress her colleagues, management and
trial judges with her hard work and ability. At the time of her appointment,
she was in the midst of several complex cases and for months after her
appointment remained concerned about having left her colleagues to deal
with the cases on which she had been lead counsel.
Satinder’s husband, Randy, is a police officer, but she did not meet him
through work; rather, she caught his eye at a coffee shop that she frequented
on her way into the Surrey office. Fortunately for Randy, Satinder
was a creature of habit, and he was able to arrange to “coincidentally” be at
the coffee shop at the time of her daily stops. They met in 2000 and were
married in 2002. Randy has been a constant source of support and encouragement
ever since.
Randy literally introduced Satinder to the world: he loves to travel, and
soon she caught his travel bug. They have been fortunate to travel to many
places—highlights include trips to Machu Picchu and Mt. Everest base
camp. Those who know Satinder will know that she is fastidious about