The lawyer defending Brian Dickson, accused in the slaying of York University student Liu Qian, said Friday his client would "absolutely" plead not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.

Steven Krys, who is representing the 29-year-old suspect, said he would be constructing "a very strong defence" for his client.

His statement came hours after Liu's boyfriend in China described how he watched in horror via webcam last week as Liu was attacked some 10,000 kilometres away in her Toronto basement apartment.

"The man tried to hold Liu Qian," Meng Xianchao told China's CCTV English news broadcaster on Friday, two days after Dickson was charged. "She was resisting and saying, 'No, no, please don't.'"

'Mind went blank'

The couple had been video chatting online around 1 a.m. ET a week ago when there was a knock at the door, according to police.

Brian Dickson, 29, was charged with the first-degree murder of York University student Liu Qian on Wednesday, five days after her body was found.

Meng said he was stunned when he saw an intruder burst into the 23-year-old woman's Toronto basement apartment. A struggle ensued and Meng managed to view part of the attack before the computer was shut down.

"At that time, my mind went blank," Meng said. "I was so far away, I couldn't reach her. I felt helpless and I couldn't calm down."

Brian Dickson, an amateur actor and running instructor, and former York University student, was arrested and charged five days after the body of Liu — named by police and in some media accounts as Qian Liu — was found at her residence near York's campus.

No signs of trauma on body

Dickson lived in the same boarding house as Liu, an international English student from Beijing who arrived in Toronto in September 2010.

During a court appearance Thursday, Dickson was remanded in custody to April 26.

No clear cause of Liu's death has been determined, as there were no signs of trauma on her body, although she was found naked from the waist down.

People who know Dickson have painted different pictures of him.

Mixed impressions

He's friendly, but also seems to have a darker side, according to Natalie Feheregyhazi, who met Dickson in a theatre class in 2009. They had acted in a play together.

But Feheregyhazi, a bartender, said she felt uncomfortable when Dickson would visit her at her workplace in a neighbourhood known as the Danforth.

"My gut had a negative feeling about him, despite the friendly exterior," Feheregyhazi said. "He had a very mild exterior — quiet, awkward exterior — but something behind that might be a little frightening."

Liu Qian's body was found in her Toronto basement apartment on April 15. She said she always noticed "odd behaviour" from Dickson, adding that he was later banned from the bar.

Toronto police Const. Tony Vella confirmed on Thursday that Dickson is known to police, but would not elaborate.

Neighbours of Dickson's family in Riverdale described him as a polite young man.

"Great kid, cordial, sociable, curious," said Lorne Hiro, who walks his dog with Dickson's parents.

"I really feel bad for the parents because this has hit them like a ton of bricks," Hiro said.

York University issued a release on Thursday saying Dickson is not a registered student and never earned a degree from the school.

According to the university's website, he was acclaimed as McLaughlin College's representative with the York Federation of Students in 2006. He also worked with the NATO-affiliated Atlantic Council of Canada in 2008. Biographical information posted on the website seemed to indicate an interest in international relations, listing his involvement in the York Model United Nations and an NGO that seeks to improve literacy in Pakistan.

On the York campus, meanwhile, students said they were still spooked by the recent events so close to them.

"Just because someone is in custody doesn't mean the problem's solved," said Vanessa Hunt, president of the students federation.

"You've got all these areas with obstructed views. It's just a breeding ground for something to happen."