Pathologist at ‘webcam murder’ trial says York student died of neck compression

TORONTO – A pathologist has told a York University student’s murder trial that she died from neck compression, going a step further than another pathologist who said he couldn’t arrive at a definitive cause of death.

The first pathologist who testified about the April 2011 death of Qian Liu, 23, listed the cause of death as unascertained, but said the best explanation is mechanical asphyxia, which could be caused by neck or chest compression or when the airways are otherwise blocked.

Brian Dickson, who was a tenant in the same building, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, but his lawyer has told the jury he’ll be urging a finding of manslaughter.

Dr. Christopher Milroy, who did a peer review of the first pathologist’s report, testified today that in his opinion the cause of death is mechanical asphyxiation due to neck compression.

Milroy says other autopsy findings such as bruising in the neck muscles and small hemorrhages in the eye are consistent with that cause of death.

Liu — who was found dead in her off-campus apartment, mostly naked and face down on the floor — had been chatting via webcam with a friend in China when he saw an intruder force his way into her room and later appear naked in front of the webcam.