A MAN has admitted to the murder of Indian student Tosha Thakkar, whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase.

Daniel Stani-Reginald's case was mentioned in Burwood Local Court today, where it was revealed the 21-year-old had pleaded guilty to Ms Thakkar's murder in March 2011 but had yet to enter any plea to a sexual assault charge.

Ms Thakkar, who was living and studying in Sydney in the three years prior to her murder, lived in the same Croydon street as Stani-Reginald.

Her body was stuffed in a suitcase then dumped in a canal at a Meadowbank park.

The suitcase was found by construction workers connecting an oil line. Stani-Reginald was arrested within a few hours of their grim discovery.

The death of the 24-year-old, who was studying accounting at Southern Cross University, triggered outrage in the Sydney Indian community and abroad.

Dozens of her friends and classmates attended Stani-Reginald's first court appearance, with posters that said "we want justice for our Indian international friend Tosha Thakkar."

The court heard Stani-Reginald's counsel were waiting for a final report on the case to decide whether he will plead guilty to a sexual assault charge or opt to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

He will be sentenced for the murder next year.

Magistrate Christopher Longley adjourned the case until November 28.