A Toronto man will plead not guilty in the slaying of a York University student whose last moments were broadcast across the Internet via webcam, his lawyer said Friday.

Steven Krys said he anticipates putting together a "very strong defence" for 29-year-old Brian Dickson.

Dickson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Qian Liu, a 23-year-old student from China who arrived in Toronto last fall.

Liu was found dead in her apartment a week ago, just a few hours after her boyfriend in China watched helplessly via webcam as she tried to fend off an attacker who appeared at her door.

Homicide detectives labelled the case a suspicious death. Liu was naked from the waist down when she was found, but there were no obvious signs of sexual assault or trauma severe enough to kill her. An autopsy has failed to reveal just how Liu died and police say it may be weeks before the results of toxicology tests are known.

The case has garnered international attention after police said an "online witness" helped them in their investigation.

Meng Xianchao, who had been videochatting with Liu when a man arrived at her door, said he felt powerless watching his girlfriend try to fight back and cry out during the struggle.

"The man tried to hold (Liu), she was resisting and saying, 'No, no, please don't'," he told China's CCTV English news broadcaster on Friday.

"I was so far away. I couldn't reach her. I felt helpless and I couldn't calm down."

Police haven't released any details on the relationship between Dickson and Liu, or any possible motive. But there are reports Dickson, who once attended York and served on student government, lived in the same building as Liu in northwest Toronto.

He was also known to police, although officials would not elaborate as to why.

Dickson made a brief appearance in court Thursday and was ordered to remain in custody until his next court date April 26. Evidence presented during the hearing can't be reported due to a court ordered publication ban.

Officers have since searched Dickson's parents' home and seized a computer. Neighbours told reporters they were stunned by his arrest.

Meanwhile, Liu's distraught parents visited the coroner's office Thursday, a day after they landed in Toronto from Beijing.