‘Canadian Psycho’ to stand trial for first-degree murder
Police have said that Magnotta, a one-time gay porn actor and sex worker, stabbed his victim- a Chinese student, with an ice pick before carving up his body, sexually abusing the corpse, filming the act and posting the video online
A Canadian ex-porn actor will stand trial for premeditated murder in the grisly killing and dismemberment of a 33-year-old Chinese student, a judge ruled on Friday.
Sufficient evidence was heard during a preliminary hearing to warrant prosecuting Luka Rocco Magnotta for the murder of Lin Jun in May, Court of Quebec Judge Lori Renee Weitzman said.
A trial date will be set on April 29.
According to prosecutor Louis Bouthillier, the trial is likely to get underway early next year. “The investigators have worked hard (on this case), but there’s still a lot of work to do,” he told reporters.
Magnotta, 30, pleaded not guilty in June to first-degree murder and other charges, including committing indignities to a body and harassing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Police have said that Magnotta, a one-time gay porn actor and sex worker, stabbed his victim with an ice pick before carving up his body, sexually abusing the corpse, filming the act and posting the video online.
Questions, however, were raised about his mental health and whether he was fit to stand trial.