Watch the delayed broadcast of Denis Mainville, commander in Crimes majeurs et économiques at the SPVM’s Service des enquêtes spécialisées, following the arrest of Luka Rocco Magnotta on Monday, June 4, in Berlin.

Event timeline

MAY 29, 2012

10:15 a.m.     A citizen alerts police to the presence of human remains in a suitcase found near the garbage cans at 5720 boul. Décarie.

An examination of the crime scene, which took over 18 hours, reveals several valuable investigative elements, as well as allowing us to seize several items, including:

      - various papers in the name of Luka Rocco MAGNOTTA

      - blood-soaked clothing

      - edged weapons

6 p.m.       We are informed that a package containing a human foot was just received by the Conservative Party of Canada office in Ottawa, and that the package was sent from a post office in Côte-des-Neiges.

Following an examination of video images from inside the apartment building showing an individual going several times to the garbage cans and a comparison with video images from the post office, we are able to confirm that it was the same person, who was later identified as Luka Rocco MAGNOTTA.

At the same time, alerted by several citizens, we learn about an online video showing a murder. The video had been posted on May 25.

9 p.m.           A second package, addressed to the Liberal Party of Canada and containing a hand, is intercepted by Canada Post.

11:30 p.m.     A general warrant is obtained to examine the inside of MAGNOTTA’s apartment. The examination of this second scene confirms that it was indeed the place where the murder was committed and the video was filmed.

At that time, the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) is consulted and an arrest warrant is issued for Luka Rocco MAGNOTTA for second-degree murder.

MAY 30, 2012

4 a.m.       We are informed of the disappearance of Jun LIN, reported missing to the SPVM on May 28 in the evening. He had been last seen on the evening of May 24. We are later able to confirm the identity of the victim with the help of a friend of his. 

Searches at the passport office reveal that Luka Rocco MAGNOTTA had taken a flight for Paris on May 26.

Immediately a request is made to the Interpol office in Ottawa to ask our French colleagues to help with the search. A “red alert” is also issued and broadcast in 190 countries around the world. The international manhunt begins…

MAY 31, 2012

After a complete analysis of the proof, the DPCP office decides to modify the charges as follows:

• first-degree murder
• interfering with a dead body
• mailing obscene materials
• publication of obscene material (corruption of morals)
• criminal harassment (of Prime Minister Stephen Harper)

JUNE 1, 2012

Autopsy at the Montréal morgue. Samples are also taken of the foot and hand for analysis and comparison. The results will be known later (Toronto laboratory).

JUNE 4, 2012

4 a.m.           We learn that the suspect left Paris by bus headed toward Berlin on May 31.

8:55 a.m.       We are informed that German police have arrested a man who matches the description of Luka Rocco MAGNOTTA at an internet café in Berlin.

12:40 p.m.     Interpol reports to us that fingerprints of the arrested individual confirm that he is indeed Luka Rocco MAGNOTTA.

Extradition

Extradition procedures will be undertaken by the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) and the Canadian Department of Justice. We are not at present able to confirm the exact time that the individual will be extradited.

Acknowledgements

• To the investigators and major crimes personnel for their excellent work on the case:
  - technological crimes

- legal identity

• To the media for their front-line role in the case, rapidly and broadly publishing images of Luka Rocco Magnotta.

• To the public which was also a great help: we received and processed over 400 tips from the public.

• In this international manhunt, the incredible cooperation and support of police services in several countries led to the arrest of the most wanted suspect in Québec. 

In Canada:

• the Toronto police service
• the Ottawa police service 
• the RCMP
• the Direction des poursuites criminelles et pénales
• le Bureau du procureur
• the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• the Sûreté du Québec

In Europe:

• the French National Fugitive Search Brigade
• the German police service

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