A man has admitted the Boxing Day killing of an Indian student but denied murder.
Kiaran Stapleton, 21, walked up to complete stranger Anuj Bidve, 23, and shot him once in the head at point-blank range in Salford, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of December 26 last year.
Appearing at Manchester Crown Court, Stapleton pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
He is expected to go on trial for murder later this month. Stapleton's trial is expected to last up to 12 days. Mr Justice Henriques QC banned reporting of Friday's proceedings other than the pleas.
The trial date was set for June 25.
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