A man accused of killing a York University student in her apartment pleaded guilty to manslaughter in her death, but had it rejected.
The Crown would not accept Brian Dickson’s plea during jury selection, and will proceed with the trial on a charge of first-degree murder.
Judge Anne Molloy explained to the panel of jurors in a Toronto courtroom on Friday that the Crown intended to prove its case that Dickson is guilty of first-degree murder.
Liu, a 23-year-old student from Beijing, was murdered on April 15, 2011 in her apartment near the university.
Police said she was chatting with her boyfriend in China via webcam when someone knocked on her door. Liu’s boyfriend told police he witnessed a struggle over the webcam.
Dickson was charged with first degree murder.
The trial is expected to begin on Monday morning.
With files from CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney
