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Luka Rocco Magnotta's web obsessions brought him down Luka Rocco Magnotta's web obsessions brought him down
(8 days later)
A Canadian porn actor suspected of murdering and dismembering a Chinese student and mailing his body parts to political parties was reading about himself on the internet when he was arrested at a cafe in Berlin.A Canadian porn actor suspected of murdering and dismembering a Chinese student and mailing his body parts to political parties was reading about himself on the internet when he was arrested at a cafe in Berlin.
Canadian investigators say 29-year-old Luka Rocco Magnotta's obsessions led him to post on the web videos of himself killing a man and some kittens, and finally to his arrest at the cafe where he had spent two hours reading media coverage about himself.Canadian investigators say 29-year-old Luka Rocco Magnotta's obsessions led him to post on the web videos of himself killing a man and some kittens, and finally to his arrest at the cafe where he had spent two hours reading media coverage about himself.
An international manhunt that captured global attention ended quietly on Monday in the working-class Neukölln district of the German capital when a cafe employee recognised Magnotta from a newspaper photo and flagged down a police car.An international manhunt that captured global attention ended quietly on Monday in the working-class Neukölln district of the German capital when a cafe employee recognised Magnotta from a newspaper photo and flagged down a police car.
Confronted by seven officers, "he tried at first giving fake names but in the end he just said: 'You got me,'" said police spokesman Guido Busch. "He didn't resist."Confronted by seven officers, "he tried at first giving fake names but in the end he just said: 'You got me,'" said police spokesman Guido Busch. "He didn't resist."
Magnotta is wanted by Canadian authorities on suspicion of killing Jun Lin, a 33-year-old man he dated, and mailing his body parts to two of Canada's top political parties before fleeing to Europe.Magnotta is wanted by Canadian authorities on suspicion of killing Jun Lin, a 33-year-old man he dated, and mailing his body parts to two of Canada's top political parties before fleeing to Europe.
They say Magnotta filmed the murder of the Chinese student in his Montreal studio apartment and posted it online. The video shows a man with an ice pick stabbing another naked, bound male. He also dismembers the corpse and performs sexual acts in what police called a horrifying video.They say Magnotta filmed the murder of the Chinese student in his Montreal studio apartment and posted it online. The video shows a man with an ice pick stabbing another naked, bound male. He also dismembers the corpse and performs sexual acts in what police called a horrifying video.
The warning signs apparently were already there. For nearly two years animal activists had been looking for a man who tortured and killed cats and posted videos of his cruelty online. Since Lin's murder, Montreal police have released a photo from the video they say is of Magnotta.The warning signs apparently were already there. For nearly two years animal activists had been looking for a man who tortured and killed cats and posted videos of his cruelty online. Since Lin's murder, Montreal police have released a photo from the video they say is of Magnotta.
In 2005, Magnotta was accused of sexually assaulting a woman, but the charges were dropped, the lawyer who represented him at the time said.In 2005, Magnotta was accused of sexually assaulting a woman, but the charges were dropped, the lawyer who represented him at the time said.
Magnotta is believed to have fled to France on 26 May, based on evidence police found at his apartment and a blog he once posted about disappearing.Magnotta is believed to have fled to France on 26 May, based on evidence police found at his apartment and a blog he once posted about disappearing.
In Germany, surveillance camera footage of the internet cafe showed Magnotta casually walking into the shop at noon, wearing jeans, a green hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses.In Germany, surveillance camera footage of the internet cafe showed Magnotta casually walking into the shop at noon, wearing jeans, a green hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses.
About two hours later, seven German police officers are seen walking into the shop.About two hours later, seven German police officers are seen walking into the shop.
A few minutes later, three officers are seen accompanying the handcuffed Magnotta.A few minutes later, three officers are seen accompanying the handcuffed Magnotta.
Police spokeswoman Kerstin Ziesmer said Magnotta was being questioned and would be brought before a judge behind closed doors.Police spokeswoman Kerstin Ziesmer said Magnotta was being questioned and would be brought before a judge behind closed doors.
"He says he is the wanted person," she said, adding that his identity had still to be independently confirmed by German authorities."He says he is the wanted person," she said, adding that his identity had still to be independently confirmed by German authorities.
Canada, like Europe, has no death penalty, making extradition more likely. Quebec bureau of prosecutions spokesman Rene Verret said it could take a long time to get Magnotta back to Canada, but he could be returned within a couple of weeks if he didn't contest the order.Canada, like Europe, has no death penalty, making extradition more likely. Quebec bureau of prosecutions spokesman Rene Verret said it could take a long time to get Magnotta back to Canada, but he could be returned within a couple of weeks if he didn't contest the order.
The case's full horror emerged when a package containing a severed foot was opened at Canada's ruling Conservative party headquarters on 29 May. That same day a hand was discovered at a postal facility, addressed to the Liberal party. And a torso was found in a suitcase on a rubbish dump in Montreal, outside Magnotta's apartment building. Police in masks combed through the blood-soaked Montreal studio apartment last Wednesday.The case's full horror emerged when a package containing a severed foot was opened at Canada's ruling Conservative party headquarters on 29 May. That same day a hand was discovered at a postal facility, addressed to the Liberal party. And a torso was found in a suitcase on a rubbish dump in Montreal, outside Magnotta's apartment building. Police in masks combed through the blood-soaked Montreal studio apartment last Wednesday.
As they unravelled his background, police discovered that Magnotta changed his name from Eric Clinton Newman in 2006 and that he was born in Scarborough, Ontario. He is also known as Vladimir Romanov.As they unravelled his background, police discovered that Magnotta changed his name from Eric Clinton Newman in 2006 and that he was born in Scarborough, Ontario. He is also known as Vladimir Romanov.
Toronto lawyer Peter Scully said he represented Magnotta in a fraud case in 2004 and a sexual assault case in 2005. He said Magnotta was charged with a dozen counts of fraud and impersonation for using a woman's credit card to buy about $17,000-worth of goods, including a television, DVD player and several mobile phones. He said he pleaded guilty to four fraud-related charges after serving 16 days in pre-trial custody. He received a nine-month conditional sentence and a year's probation.Toronto lawyer Peter Scully said he represented Magnotta in a fraud case in 2004 and a sexual assault case in 2005. He said Magnotta was charged with a dozen counts of fraud and impersonation for using a woman's credit card to buy about $17,000-worth of goods, including a television, DVD player and several mobile phones. He said he pleaded guilty to four fraud-related charges after serving 16 days in pre-trial custody. He received a nine-month conditional sentence and a year's probation.
Scully remembered Magnotta as softly spoken and polite.Scully remembered Magnotta as softly spoken and polite.
"I've had lots of creepy characters and Eric did not stand out as one of them," he said."I've had lots of creepy characters and Eric did not stand out as one of them," he said.
But Nina Arsenault, a Toronto transsexual who said she had a relationship with Magnotta more than a decade ago, described him as a drug user with a temper who sometimes turned his anger on himself, hitting himself on the head and other parts of his body.But Nina Arsenault, a Toronto transsexual who said she had a relationship with Magnotta more than a decade ago, described him as a drug user with a temper who sometimes turned his anger on himself, hitting himself on the head and other parts of his body.
While Magnotta described himself in an online video interview with a site called Naked News as a stripper and male escort, Lin, who was from Wuhan, China, was registered as an undergraduate in the engineering department and computer science at Concordia University in Montreal.While Magnotta described himself in an online video interview with a site called Naked News as a stripper and male escort, Lin, who was from Wuhan, China, was registered as an undergraduate in the engineering department and computer science at Concordia University in Montreal.
Police have confirmed Magnotta is a porn actor and that he and Jun had a relationship.Police have confirmed Magnotta is a porn actor and that he and Jun had a relationship.
Zoya De Frias Lakhany, 21, a fellow Concordia student in some of Lin's classes, said he was an excellent student who was shy and humble. "He was happy here, he would take pictures of the snow and post them," she recalled. "He was sweet, never complained and smiled all the time."Zoya De Frias Lakhany, 21, a fellow Concordia student in some of Lin's classes, said he was an excellent student who was shy and humble. "He was happy here, he would take pictures of the snow and post them," she recalled. "He was sweet, never complained and smiled all the time."
Ian Lafreniere of Montreal police said investigators were extremely relieved and pleased about the arrest.Ian Lafreniere of Montreal police said investigators were extremely relieved and pleased about the arrest.
"We said from the beginning that the web has been used to glorify himself and we believe the web brought him down," said Lafreniere. "He was recognised because his photo was everywhere.""We said from the beginning that the web has been used to glorify himself and we believe the web brought him down," said Lafreniere. "He was recognised because his photo was everywhere."
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