Luka Rocco Magnotta has collapsed in court during his preliminary hearing.

The notorious suspect in a killing and dismemberment case had been listening to evidence against him, whose contents are subject to a publication ban.

He appeared distressed during the hearing, holding his hand over his mouth as if he felt ill while hearing the evidence. His eyes were closed for much of the session.

Magnotta appeared to wipe tears from his eyes, behind his glasses, several times.

After about 10 minutes of that segment of the hearing, he asked the guard in his glass-enclosed defendant's box to request a five-minute break.

He stood up and collapsed on the floor just after the judge agreed to an extended break for lunch.