WARNING: This story contains disturbing content that may not be suitable for some people. Discretion is strongly advised.
He is the voiceless victim in the heinous crime rocking Canada and reverberating throughout the globe.
Lin Jun, a 33-year-old Chinese student, was studying at Montreal’s Concordia University when police believe he crossed paths with Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man suspected of his killing and subsequent dismembering.
The sensational case has captured headlines around the world, driven largely by the shocking actions and egomaniacal personality of the suspected killer, both well-documented online.
But many are warning not to let the infamy of Magnotta overshadow the humanity of the victim.
“Sadly the individual who really is at the centre of this, who has lost his life, has been little more than a prop for the person who took his life, but also for the rest of us,” said executive director of Ottawa Victims Services Steve Sullivan.
While it is understandable to fixate on the sensational tidbits of the case, Sullivan said people need to remember Lin and the family who will mourn his loss.
“I don’t know that we’ve all paid attention to that or thought about the reality of what that means,” he said.
Montreal police were not able to name Lin until Friday, days after the heinous crimes allegedly done by Magnotta came to light.
During that time, public attention has been hooked on Magnotta, the man police believe killed and dismembered Lin – an act that was later posted on the Internet for the world to see. The victim’s severed hand and food were later sent in separate packages to the headquarters of the Conservative and Liberal parties in Ottawa.
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The morbid details of the crime have been exacerbated by online posts linked to the suspect’s name including allegations of kitten killing, blogs about how to disappear, escort ads and a porn career.
“As despicable as it is, it has to be reported and we, the public, have a right to know all the details,” said Sharon Rosenfeldt, whose 16-year-old son Daryn was murdered by serial killer Clifford Olson. “There are evil people walking among us. We have to face facts and face reality.”
But reporting on the crime has to be balanced with reporting on the victim, according to Rosenfeldt.
“What we found to be emotionally healing for us was when media asked ‘Who was Daryn?’” she said. “Daryn was a living human being, a citizen of Canada. He existed.”
Details are still emerging about just who Lin was, but he is from Wuhan, the most populous city in central China. Lin has no relatives in Montreal, but police said Chinese consular officials have been in touch with his family in China.
He came to Montreal to study in 2011 and was enrolled as an undergraduate student in Concordia University’s faculty of engineering and computer science.
Concordia University issued a statement expressing their condolences to Lin’s family.
“We are saddened to learn of this loss of life and it has affected our community, especially those who knew him,” said university president Frederick Lowy.
Lin, who was also known as Patrick or Justin, was paying his way through school, working at a corner store in Montreal where he had a reputation of being trustworthy and reliable.
That’s why his coworker Kankan Huang said it was so strange when he didn’t show up for his shift on Friday.
“I check the new each day,” Huang told Global News. “I hope to find something about him, but the only thing is bad news.”
Huang said he is hoping further DNA testing will show the body parts do not belong to Lin.
At the low-rise apartment building where Lin lived, the concierge had one word to describe him.
“Gentleman… that’s all I can say,” said Alfredo Hedriana.
The gritty neighbourhood is home to a large immigrant population and is just steps away from Mount Royal and its large parks.
Hedriana said he first realized something was wrong when four of Lin’s friends came to look for him at 10:00 PM on May 27.
It wasn’t until later that he would learn what happened.
“The body with no head,” he coughed. “I was shocked, shocked, very shocked.”
At some point, Lin and Magnotta met and police said they were in some type of a relationship.
Police are not confirming it, but sources told Global News the men met through an online classified ad.
Lin was last seen alive on May 24 and was reported missing by someone close to him on May 29, the day a janitor in Montreal found the torso of a man locked in a suitcase.
With files from Mike Armstrong and Domenic Fazioli.
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