Tuesday, December 30, 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

Republicans sweep Congress, in nasty political anniversary for Obama

Republicans sweep Congress, in nasty political anniversary for Obama
WASHINGTON — The Republican party has real power again in Washington and must now decide how to use it: try governing with President Barack Obama, or seek to destroy what's left of his presidency.

Republicans sweep Congress, in nasty political anniversary for Obama

Feds cracking down on 'barbaric' cultural practices, immigrant polygamy

Feds cracking down on 'barbaric' cultural practices, immigrant polygamy
TORONTO — Legislation aimed at curbing "barbaric" cultural practices from occurring in Canada would be introduced on Wednesday, Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander has announced.

Feds cracking down on 'barbaric' cultural practices, immigrant polygamy

MPs to debate bill that would bring back long census Conservatives axed

MPs to debate bill that would bring back long census Conservatives axed
OTTAWA — The Commons will debate a private member's bill to bring back the long-form census, the mandatory questionnaire axed by the Conservative government in 2010.

MPs to debate bill that would bring back long census Conservatives axed

Senate approves Conservative government's controversial prostitution bill

Senate approves Conservative government's controversial prostitution bill
OTTAWA — The Conservative government's controversial anti-prostitution bill passed third reading in the Senate on Tuesday and requires only royal assent to become law.

Senate approves Conservative government's controversial prostitution bill

Agriculture minister disappointed group wants to continue wheat board lawsuit

Agriculture minister disappointed group wants to continue wheat board lawsuit
OTTAWA — Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says he is disappointed a farm group wants to take its multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Ottawa over the Canadian Wheat Board to the Supreme Court.

Agriculture minister disappointed group wants to continue wheat board lawsuit

Stuckless guilty of 2 counts of gross indecency;acquitted on 2 counts of buggery

Stuckless guilty of 2 counts of gross indecency;acquitted on 2 counts of buggery
TORONTO — Months after pleading guilty to 100 charges related to the sexual abuse of 18 boys, the man at the centre of the Maple Leaf Gardens sex scandal has been convicted in two more charges linked to two of those victims.  

Stuckless guilty of 2 counts of gross indecency;acquitted on 2 counts of buggery