‘Canadian psycho’ Luka Magnotta will stand trial for first degree murder, a Quebec judge ruled Friday, saying there is sufficient evidence for the charge.
Magnotta, 30, is accused of murdering Concordia University student Jun (Justin) Lin in May 2012. Chinese exchange student Lin’s body was found dismembered in a suitcase, a park, as well as mailed to several government offices.
Magnotta will also face charges of publishing obscene material, criminal harassment, mailing obscene material and committing an indignity to a body.
While a trial date will be set on April 29, crown prosecutor Louis Bouthillier isn’t expecting it to happen before 2014.
“We were obviously very satisfied with the court’s decision this afternoon,” Bouthillier said outside the court. “I wish to salute the hard work done by the police officers in this case.
“They worked very hard, and there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Last week, court documents were released that showed Magnotta, born Eric Clinton Newman, had been treated for paranoid schizophrenia for a number of years before allegedly killing Lin.
Magnotta was arrested at an Internet cafe in Berlin, Germany on June 4, 2012, following an international manhunt. An employee of the cafe recognized him from the news and alerted authorities.
Magnotta will be tried by judge and jury, and has entered a plea of not guilty.