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Magnotta trial continues with cross-examination of crime-scene technician

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Oct, 2014 10:49 AM

    MONTREAL - Luka Rocco Magnotta's lawyer is continuing his cross-examination of a Montreal police crime-scene technician today on Day 3 of his client's first-degree murder trial.

    Crown witness Caroline Simoneau testified Monday and Tuesday before Luc Leclair began questioning her.

    Leclair is showing the jury this morning the actual items police seized outside Magnotta's apartment in May 2012.

    These include clothes, receipts and tools.

    Each item was presented to the jury in a series of photographs at the outset of the trial, but the jurors are seeing each physical exhibit so they can consult them for themselves.

    The 32-year-old Magnotta is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying and dismemberment of Chinese student Jun Lin.

    Magnotta faces four other charges: criminally harassing Harper and other members of Parliament; mailing obscene and indecent material; committing an indignity to a body; and publishing obscene material.

    He has pleaded not guilty to the five charges, although he has admitted to the crimes. His lawyer has indicated he will mount a defence of mental disorder to seek a verdict of not criminally responsible.

    Simoneau has testified she was called to the apartment where Lin's torso was discovered stuffed in a fly-covered suitcase in the trash behind the low-rent building.

    She snapped more than 100 photos at the scene, going through trash bags and documenting the contents.

    Several other body parts — two arms and one leg — were triple-bagged and were among countless items recovered from the trash.

    Also found were a grinder saw, a hammer and a screwdriver.

    The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks and feature some 60 witnesses.

    Crown prosecutor Louis Bouthillier has told the eight female and six male jurors he intends to prove Magnotta planned the slaying. He said the evidence will show the accused killed Lin, 33, dismembered his corpse and sent his hands and feet by mail to Ottawa and Vancouver.

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