Details of the cause of death of murdered York student Qian ‘Necole’ Liu will be released during the upcoming trial of suspect Brian Dickson.
According to Detective Sergeant Frank Skubic, lead investigator in the case, the pathologist is expected to testify during the trial, which is set for March 17, 2014.
The trial, which will be held at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, will be open to the public and is scheduled to take up to six weeks.
The Liu family is expected to be present.
The trial is resuming after nearly a year’s delay due to the defense’s motion to explore new possible defenses, including mental health.
Liu was found dead in her Village apartment on April 15, 2011, hours after her boyfriend watched her struggle with a man in her room via webcam in Beijing. Liu was later found by two friends and her landlord. Police reported she was naked from the waist down, but with no signs of trauma or sexual assault.
Days later, Dickson—who once attended York—was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Liu. According to Dickson’s lawyer at the time, he was intending to plead not guilty.
Victoria Alarcon
Assistant News Editor
