A Toronto man wanted in a 14-year-old Philadelphia murder investigation will fight extradition to the United States, according to his lawyer.

Kai-Guo Huang, 35, made his second court appearance in Toronto on Thursday. His lawyer told reporters that Huang is “contesting the extradition in its totality.”

"Canada won't extradite if the death penalty is a possible sentencing option unless the requesting state undertakes not to seek the death penalty,” said Ravin Pillay. “I'm assuming that that's not going to be an issue, but it may be an issue."

Police in Philadelphia said arrest warrants were issued for Huang and his brother after a body was found in a garbage can.

A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Police Department said that Huang could face the death penalty if convicted of the charges, but she added that Pennsylvania has only carried out three executions since 1976.

"He could be sentenced to death, but he would be like many and just remain on death row," she said.

Huang was arrested in the city’s east end on a drunk-driving charge on Aug. 7, but a fingerprint search showed he is wanted in connection to a 1998 murder and dismemberment case in Philadelphia.

At the time of his arrest, Huang told police his name was Yu Chen.

Members of Huang’s church were also in court today. They told CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry that Huang was an active member of the church, owned a condo and ran his own business.

Huang came from China in 2006 as a refugee claimant using the name Yu Chen and according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada his fingerprint would have been taken at least once during the immigration process.

In a statement issued to CTV Toronto earlier this month, the agency said refugee claimants “are subject to a thorough screening,” which includes “photographs, fingerprint checks and the initiation of security and criminality checks.”

Since immigrating to Toronto, Huang has been given permanent resident status.

Huang is scheduled to make another court appearance on Oct. 9. No date has been set for Huang’s extradition hearing.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry and files from The Canadian Press