Iana Kasian was found murdered in her West Hollywood apartment last week. Photo via Facebook.
The Toronto-born son of a rich real estate developer has pleaded not guilty to murder, torture, and a host of other charges relating to the horrific death of his girlfriend in West Hollywood.Blake Leibel, 35, entered the not guilty plea in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday, after being arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend Iana Kasian. Police reportedly found him barricaded inside the couple's apartment where Kasian's body was also located.She had sustained blunt force trauma to the head, according to police. In a statement, prosecutors said she'd been mutilated and all of her blood was drained.Kasian, 30, is reportedly the mother to Leibel's baby, who was born just a few weeks ago.Speaking to the National Post, a friend of Kasian's said Kasian moved out of her home with Leibel after he was recently charged with sexual assault, but she visited him last Tuesday. He was released after posting $100,000 bail. Her body was found Thursday after her mother reported her missing.Leibel is a graphic novelist and director whose works include a book called Syndrome about the mind of a serial killer and a screenplay about a killing spree. His dad, former Olympic sailor Lorne Leibel, is known as the "Ferrari Man" due to his penchant for sports cars. His mother reportedly left most of her large estate to him before she died in 2011. According to the Washington Post, he was receiving an $18,000 monthly allowance from his parents.In addition to premeditated murder and torture, Leibel is facing charges of mayhem (mutilation), and aggravated mayhem. A conviction could mean the death penalty.Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz has ordered Leibel to undergo a psychological evaluation.Follow Manisha Krishnan on Twitter.
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