DNA confirms dismembered body's identity

2012-06-14 11:04

AP

Vancouver - DNA tests confirm that a severed hand and foot mailed to schools in Vancouver belong to the alleged victim of a suspect arrested this month in Germany for his involvement in a cannibalistic murder and dismemberment, Canadian police said on Wednesday.

Packages containing the body parts were delivered by mail to two elementary schools in the Pacific port city on 5 June, days after a torso was found in an alleyway across the country in Montreal. A hand and foot from the same body were also mailed to political parties in Ottawa.

Police have said the torso and body parts belong to Jun Lin, aged 32, a student from China who was at Montreal's Concordia University.

"It has been confirmed with DNA that body parts found in Vancouver belong to the victim, Mr Lin," a Montreal police spokesperson said.

The head is still missing.

Canadian Luka Rocco Magnotta, aged 29, faces charges of first-degree murder, indignities to a body, publishing and mailing obscene matter, and harassing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The gruesome case involves a disturbing online video that depicts the crime.

Magnotta is in custody in Berlin and has said he won't fight extradition to Canada. Canadian officials said last week he could be returned to Canada within weeks.

- Reuters