London: The main accused in the murder of Indian student Anuj Bidve in Salford in Britain on December 26, 2011 pleaded guilty on Friday in a Manchester court. Kiaran Stapleton admitted to shooting 23-year-old Bidve in an unprovoked attack on the Boxing Day.

Stapleton, 21, admitted to manslaughter at the Manchester Crown Court. He is expected to go on trial for murder.

Lancaster University student Bidve was walking with friends in Salford when he was shot in the head at close range.

Bidve, who was a postgraduate student of Microelectronics at Lancaster University, died from the single gunshot wound.

Hundreds of people had attended emotional candle-light vigils in Salford and New Delhi as the incident hit the headlines across India and Britain.

Bidve's parents had arrived in the UK to collect the body for cremation in Pune.