Magnotta trial: Father paints picture of unhappy childhood

Luka Magnotta is seen in this undated court sketch.

Luka Rocco Magnotta's father is painting a picture of the accused murderer's childhood, revealing his son didn't attend school until he was in Grade 6 or 7 and spent much of his younger years without ever playing with kids his age.

Magnotta's father, whose name is protected by a publication ban, was the first person to testify for the defence in his son's first-degree murder trial. The prosecution formally concluded presenting its evidence earlier Friday.

Magnotta is charged with murder in the slaying and dismemberment of Jun Lin in May 2012 in Montreal. He has admitted to killing the Chinese engineering student, but has pleaded not guilty by way of mental disorder.

Magnotta's father says he met his son's mother when she was 16 and he was 17. She soon became pregnant with Magnotta, whom they decided to name Eric Clinton Kirk Newman. The "Clinton" was for actor Clint Eastwood, while the Kirk was for Kirk Douglas. They had another son 10 months later and then a daughter.

Magnotta was home-schooled for several years and had no contact with children his age, his father said. It wasn't until after the couple divorced and the children went to live with their mother's mother that he started attending school. He testified that was when Magnotta was in Grade 6 or 7 and said his son was mistreated by other kids.

The father told the court that when they were still together, his wife was controlling of the children and was also a germaphobe. He didn't think she was doing a good job teaching the children and he said the family was isolated in the small town of Bethany, Ont., near Peterborough, where they lived.

After 10 years or so, the couple divorced.

"I didn't love her anymore and I didn't like the way she treated the kids," he said.

Magnotta's father said his wife's mother, who never liked him, eventually took custody of the children. He suggested that Magnotta and his other son were abused by their mother’s family.

"They were very mixed-up kids in all ways and they still are," he said.

Shortly after, Magnotta's father said he lost his job and began drinking heavily. Then he began having psychological problems and was hearing voices.

He told the court he has schizophrenia and is now taking antipsychotic medication and antidepressants and has stopped drinking.

Magnotta’s father also said he once took Magnotta to see a psychiatrist, but could not remember what prompted him to do so. He said he has seen his son four or five times since his arrest.

“It went well. We connect. We understand each other.”

Besides the murder charge, Magnotta is also facing four other charges: criminally harassing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other members of Parliament; mailing obscene and indecent material; committing an indignity to a body; and publishing obscene materials.

With reports from CTV’s Vanessa Lee and The Canadian Press