CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Saturday, Jul. 21, 2012 9:41AM EDT
Last Updated Saturday, Jul. 21, 2012 12:16PM EDT
Family, friends and perfect strangers came together Saturday at a memorial for the Chinese exchange student murdered and dismembered in a horrific case that captured the world’s attention.
The group was led in a service Montreal Chinese Alliance Church dedicated to praying for peace for Jun Lin and his family.
Reporter Camille Ross told CTV News Channel that the program included a mix of songs hymns as well as a sermon.
Ross said Lin’s mother was to share what the ordeal has been like for her.
“(The family says) that this ordeal has brought them to a breaking point just physically and emotionally. They say their son was in constant contact with them, that he was a wonderful son and their hearts are aching,” Ross said from outside the church.
Lin’s family has been in Montreal for the past month and they have said they will stay for the durationof the trial of the man charged in connection with their son’s killing -- Luka Rocco Magnotta.
Ross said that the community has come together to support family.
“Concordia University has raised $70,000 for the family, $24,000 of that coming from the Chinese student association alone, and that is to help with the costs associated with (the family) staying here for the extent of the trial that is to take place in early March.”
Lin, 33, was killed in late May.
Magnotta was charged with the murder and has pleaded not guilty to various charges, including first-degree murder. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for next March.
