MONTREAL - Luka Rocco Magnotta has formally withdrawn his appeal of a conviction in the first-degree murder of Jun Lin.

Magnotta's lawyer dropped the appeal today during a hearing at the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Magnotta was found guilty of first-degree murder and four other charges last December in the 2012 slaying and dismemberment of Lin, a Chinese engineering student.

The jury deliberated for eight days before returning five guilty verdicts.

Magnotta admitted to killing and dismembering Lin but was seeking to be found not criminally responsible by way of mental disorder.

His lawyer had announced the appeal in January, citing judicial errors and asking the court to grant Magnotta a new trial.