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Crime & Justice • Murder Case

Luka Magnotta

Luka Magnotta is a Canadian convicted murderer best known for the 2012 killing and dismemberment of Jun Lin in Montreal.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Luka Magnotta is a Canadian convicted murderer best known for the 2012 killing and dismemberment of Jun Lin in Montreal. He was found guilty in December 2014 and sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years.

Background

Luka Magnotta was born Eric Clinton Kirk Newman in 1982. He became known in Canada and internationally through online activity before his arrest. He used the name Luka Rocco Magnotta and was later charged in connection with the death of Jun Lin.

Murder case and arrest

In 2012, Jun Lin, a Concordia University student, was killed and dismembered in Montreal. Magnotta fled Canada, was arrested in Berlin after an international manhunt, and was extradited back to Canada.

Trial and sentence

A jury found Magnotta guilty of first-degree murder in December 2014 after eight days of deliberation. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with parole eligibility after 25 years, along with concurrent sentences for related offences.

Media coverage and documentary

The case became widely known through news coverage and later true-crime productions. Netflix released the documentary series Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, which includes the online search for Magnotta before his arrest.

Key facts

  • Magnotta was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Jun Lin in December 2014.
  • He received a mandatory life sentence with parole eligibility after 25 years.
  • The case drew international attention because of the online posting of violent material and the later manhunt.
  • He was apprehended in Berlin in June 2012 and returned to Canada for trial.
  • Correctional Service Canada reported that he was transferred from a maximum-security institution to a medium-security prison in 2022.
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Canadian context

The case is a major Canadian criminal matter that involved Montreal, a nationwide investigation, extradition from Germany, and Canadian correctional custody.

Frequently asked questions

What did Luka Magnotta do?
He was convicted of murdering and dismembering Jun Lin in Montreal in 2012 and of related offences connected to the case.
Where is Luka Magnotta now?
He is serving his sentence in Canada. Correctional Service Canada reported in 2022 that he had been transferred to a medium-security prison in Quebec.
What was Luka Magnotta's sentence?
He received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 25 years, plus concurrent sentences for related charges.
When was Luka Magnotta's trial?
His jury trial concluded in December 2014, when he was found guilty after eight days of deliberations.
Is there a documentary about Luka Magnotta?
Yes. Netflix’s true-crime series Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer covers the online pursuit linked to the case.
Who was Luka Magnotta's victim?
His victim was Jun Lin, a 33-year-old Concordia University student from China.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Jun_Lin
    Supports: Conviction, life sentence, victim name, and imprisonment details.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luka_Magnotta
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, conviction, and parole eligibility.
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30590106
    Supports: Trial outcome, sentence, and victim identification.
  4. CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/who-is-luka-rocco-magnotta-1.1200147
    Supports: Background, identity, and connection to Montreal and Jun Lin.
  5. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18495359
    Supports: Arrest, extradition, and murder investigation details.
  6. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/05/luka-rocco-magnotta-web-obsessions
    Supports: International manhunt and case context.
  7. Correctional Service Canada — https://www.correctionalservice.gc.ca/
    Supports: Current incarceration and institutional transfer in 2022.
  8. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/
    Supports: Documentary series Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer.