French police actively hunting ‘Canadian Psycho’ suspect

PARIS, France – French police said Saturday, June 2, they are actively hunting a Canadian porn star suspected of filming the dismemberment of his boyfriend and mailing the body parts.

A police source said “targeted searches” were under way for Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, amid reports he might be in France, after an airport official said passenger lists of flights from Canada were being checked, so far without result.

The police declined to say whether the searches were linked to the behavior of Magnotta, dubbed “Canadian Psycho” by the popular press, on previous visits to France, or definite reports that he was in the country.

Police said Friday they had no certainty about Magnotta’s presence in France.

Interpol on Thursday issued a Red Notice wanted persons alert for Magnotta, also known as Eric Clinton Newman and Vladimir Romanov, to its 190 member countries after a video of the grisly killing surfaced online.

Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail meanwhile quoted unnamed sources as saying he could be in France.

Body parts

The killing came to light when Canadian police said Tuesday that a human foot had been sent to the headquarters of Canada’s ruling Conservative Party.

A hand was later found in the mail at an Ottawa post office, and a torso was discovered in Montreal. Canadian police believe the remains belong to a man who was dating Magnotta — and that Magnotta is to blame.

Canadian authorities say they believe the suspect may have fled the country.

The suspect has been dubbed “Canadian Psycho” because the video circulating online shows a man stab another man with an ice pick and dismember him while a song from the film “American Psycho” plays in the background.

The victim, a student identified as Lin Jun, had been “in a relationship” with the porn star, according to Montreal police commander Ian Lafreniere.

Lafreniere said Magnotta wears wigs and sometimes disguises himself as a woman.

“We believe he could be anywhere at this point,” Lafreniere added, noting that Magnotta may have returned to Canada under another identity. – Rappler.com