The man accused of murdering and dismembering a Chinese university student in Montreal is back in Canada to face prosecution after an international manhunt.
Luka Rocco Magnotta landed at Montreal's Mirabel Airport just before 7 p.m. ET Monday aboard a military transport flight from Berlin. He was closely guarded by six Montreal police officers on the flight.
A convoy of police and emergency vehicles with flashing lights met Magnotta at the airport. Armed guards were on standby as he was whisked away in one of the cars.
Magnotta, a 29-year-old porn actor and model, is expected to appear in a Quebec court Tuesday.
"We're extremely happy and relieved now (that) the accused killer is in Montreal and will face justice," Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere told reporters shortly after Magnotta's arrival at the airport. "That will be also helpful to the family."
Magnotta is a suspect in the grisly killing of Chinese Concordia University student Jun Lin, 33, whose torso was found in a suitcase in the garbage behind a Montreal apartment building last month.
Police said parts of Lin's body were mailed to federal political offices as well as two Vancouver schools. They also believe that his murder was videotaped and posted on the Internet.
Lafraniere said Monday that Lin's head is still missing and that police are focused on finding it to bring closure to the victim's family.
"On behalf of the family, we'll do everything to get it back," he said.
Lin's parents and sister recently travelled to Montreal from China to meet with investigators. In an open letter, they thanked everyone who offered them assistance and emotional support in Canada.
Magnotta, originally from Scarborough, Ont., first fled to Paris and was captured at an Internet café in Berlin several days later, on June 6.
He was held in German police custody until Canada formally requested his extradition.
The extradition process required collaboration among federal authorities, Montreal police, the Quebec Prosecution Service and German officials.
In a statement, both Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews lauded this co-operation.
"It is important that Canadians can have confidence that those who are accused of serious crimes will face the full force of the law," the statement read.
The original arrest warrant issued for Magnotta cited five criminal charges, including first-degree murder, but Lafraniere said Monday that number could change.
Montreal investigators have yet to formally question Magnotta, he said.
Lafraniere said police considered various safety measures when they decided to bring Magnotta back to Canada on a military flight.
Police had to consider how passengers on a commercial flight would react to having a suspected killer on the same plane, he said. There was also the risk of the plane getting diverted to another country, which could pose all sorts of legal problems.
"We needed a direct flight," Lafreniere said.
The large convoy waiting for Magnotta at Mirabel Airport was assembled because police feared other vehicles might chase Magnotta down the highway, Lafreniere said.
"You're talking about a very special case. You're talking about one of the largest manhunts in Montreal's history," he said. "But we're happy to say鈥verything went smoothly."
