MONTREAL — The jury at Luka Rocco Magnotta's murder trial has heard from his current psychiatrist that her patient fell in love with a male nurse in April 2013.
Dr. Renee Roy testifed this morning that the nurse worked in a wing where Magnotta was being held and had apparently complimented the accused on his clothing.
Roy said Magnotta wrote a sexually explicit letter to the nurse, who was unaware of the interest.
Magnotta later expressed disappointment when detention centre staff decided to reassign the man from the hospital infirmary.
Magnotta is standing trial on first-degree murder in the May 2012 slaying of Jun Lin.
He has admitted to killing the 33-year-old Chinese engineering student, but has pleaded not guilty by way of mental disorder.
Crown prosecutor Louis Bouthillier asked Roy whether it was uncommon for someone with a serious mental health issue to have such romantic attachments.
Roy, who has treated Magnotta since November 2012, replied that it was not, although medications can sometimes have an impact on libido in patients.
She also said the psychiatrist who initially treated Magnotta in prison released him from care in August 2012, saying he didn't need constant treatment once his medications had been regulated.
Dr. Jacques Talbot saw Magnotta six times between June and November 2012, mainly because he was displaying side-effects from his medication.
Roy said Magnotta asked to be seen by a different psychiatrist because he expressed concerns about Talbot's English skills. He also wanted to be put back on an anti-psychotic medication.
