The 29-year-old Toronto man accused in the murder of a 23-year-old York University student was remanded into custody during a brief court appearance Tuesday morning.
Brian Dickson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Qian Liu. The Chinese visa student was found dead, naked from her waist down, in her apartment near York University last April.
Dickson, bearded and wearing an orange jumpsuit, appeared by video link in court from the detention centre where he is being held. The case was put over to Oct. 26.
Lawyers set a January start date for the preliminary hearing that will determine if there is enough evidence to advance to trial.
Liu's death made headlines around the world as the "webcam murder" after police said Liu's boyfriend witnessed part of the attack over his webcam from China.
Last April, her boyfriend Meng Xiachao told CTV News in Beijing that he watched in shock as a man attempted to hug his girlfriend before attacking her.
The cause of Liu's death has not been revealed.
Though Dickson hasn't entered a plea yet, his lawyer Rob Nuttall said he is expected to plead not guilty to the charges.
Speaking briefly with reporters outside court, Nuttall said he was still waiting for "critical disclosure" materials from the Crown.
Nuttall said the two sides had scheduled two weeks for the preliminary hearing in January, but they can extend that to a third week if necessary.
