Brian Dickson, convicted of first-degree murder for the death of York University student Qian Liu, has filed a notice of appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Dickson was convicted April 7, 2014 of killing 23-year-old Liu on April 15, 2011, and cited “wrongful conviction of first-degree murder” as his ground of appeal, though he wrote “his lawyer will file a ‘comprehensive argument’ later,” according to the Canadian Press.
Local media report the document secures Dickson’s right to file a full appeal.
In a CBC News Toronto video, Dickson’s lawyer, Robert Nuttall, has previously expressed Dickson’s feelings about the case, stating, “he’s very, very remorseful, he’s fully taken responsibility for her death.”
Nuttall also states in the video that Dickson tried to plead guilty for manslaughter.
Toronto police Detective Sergeant Frank Skubic testified in Dickson’s January 2012 bail hearing, and stated Dickson had no criminal record, but had criminal charges withdrawn on three prior occasions.
As Dickson’s trial went on, he was dubbed the “Webcam Murderer,” as part of his alleged attack on Liu that was witnessed by Liu’s ex-boyfriend, Xian Meng. He was chatting with Liu through webcam in the early morning hours of April 15, 2011.
Liu’s parents, who flew in from China for the trial, released a statement several days after Dickson had been convicted of first-degree murder. They stated, “with the death of their ‘lovely’ only child, they lost their entire future.”
Salem Tesfai
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Image source: Myspace
"Webcam Murderer" appeals first-degree murder conviction
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