Friday, December 26, 2025
ADVT 
National

Evidence completed at Luka Rocco Magnotta's first-degree murder trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Dec, 2014 10:24 AM
  • Evidence completed at Luka Rocco Magnotta's first-degree murder trial

MONTREAL — The jury in the first-degree murder trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta has finished hearing the evidence.

The case has been adjourned until next Wednesday, when the defence and Crown will give their closing arguments, followed by the judge's instructions to the jury.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer told jurors today they'll likely be sequestered as of next Friday.

Magnotta has pleaded not guilty by way of mental disorder to premeditated murder and four other charges related to the slaying and dismemberment of Jun Lin in May 2012.

The trial has sat for 40 days and heard from 66 witnesses, including some more than once.

The final witnesses today were defence expert witnesses who'd previously appeared and were recalled to reply to testimony from the Crown expert.

Defence experts have said they believe Magnotta was psychotic, had been untreated for schizophrenia for at least two years and was unable to tell right from wrong when he killed Lin.

The Crown argues the crime was planned and deliberate.

A psychiatrist for the Crown testified he has doubts about Magnotta's schizophrenia diagnosis in 2001, but says even if it is accurate, there's nothing to indicate he was not in touch with reality the night of the killing.

Magnotta is charged with first-degree murder; criminally harassing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other members of Parliament; mailing obscene and indecent material; committing an indignity to a body; and publishing obscene materials.

MORE National ARTICLES

Auditor cites problems in Syria projects, military water purification

Auditor cites problems in Syria projects, military water purification
OTTAWA — Funding delays of more than a year plagued two major Canada humanitarian assistance projects in Syria, while the military's water purification system didn't measure up during last year's typhoon in the Philippines.

Auditor cites problems in Syria projects, military water purification

Government not doing enough to keep tabs on northern food-subsidy program: audit

Government not doing enough to keep tabs on northern food-subsidy program: audit
OTTAWA — The auditor general says the federal government can't tell if northerners are reaping the full benefit of a program aimed at helping to offset the high cost of food in the North.

Government not doing enough to keep tabs on northern food-subsidy program: audit

No one-stop shop for data on government auto bailouts, auditor finds

No one-stop shop for data on government auto bailouts, auditor finds
OTTAWA — Canadians would have to sift through a stack of different reports if they wanted to piece together how their tax dollars were spent on big auto bailouts, says a new report by the federal auditor general.

No one-stop shop for data on government auto bailouts, auditor finds

Canada's collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor

Canada's collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor
OTTAWA — Future generations may not be able to enjoy Canada's recorded heritage — including photos, maps and important documents — because Library and Archives Canada is not collecting all of the material it should from federal agencies, the auditor general says.

Canada's collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor

Highlights from the fall 2014 report of the federal auditor general

Highlights from the fall 2014 report of the federal auditor general
OTTAWA — Highlights from auditor general Michael Ferguson's fall 2014 report, released Tuesday:

Highlights from the fall 2014 report of the federal auditor general

Harper earmarks $5.8B for federal infrastructure, including parks, museums

Harper earmarks $5.8B for federal infrastructure, including parks, museums
LONDON, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled a $5.8-billion menu of federal infrastructure improvements Monday in an announcement one political rival immediately described as a batch of recycled promises.

Harper earmarks $5.8B for federal infrastructure, including parks, museums