Vinzent Tarantino 'wanted to confess' to schoolgirl Quanna Diec's murder

A Sydney man who denies murdering a 12-year-old schoolgirl in 1998 visited police 18 years later wanting to confess to the crime, a jury has been told.

NSW Police escort Vinzent Tarantino along Appin Road near Bulli south of Sydney in Sydney. Source: AAP

A Sydney man took a 12-year-old schoolgirl from the street more than two decades ago before strangling her at his father's nearby home, a prosecutor has told a jury.

Some 18 years later Vinzent Tarantino allegedly walked into a Sydney police station saying he wanted to confess to the murder.

Tarantino, 52, has pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to murdering Quanne Diec, who vanished on July 27 in 1998 after leaving her Granville home to walk to the train station on her way to school.

Police are again searching bushland south of Sydney for the remains of Quanne Diec. Source: AAP

In his opening address on Monday, prosecutor Pat Barrett said Quanne's body has never been found, but the crown alleges Tarantino disposed of her in bushland south of Sydney.

Mr Barrett said he expected the evidence would show the then-31-year-old took the schoolgirl from Factory Street as she walked to the station.

He then went to his nearby father's home where he strangled her, the prosecutor said.

A woman, now dead, told police she saw a white van parked by the kerb and a young girl standing a little way from the passenger side before she opened the door and got in.

Evidence linked Tarantino to a white van, Mr Barrett said.

"On the 20th of November 2016, the accused walked into Surry Hills police station and told police he wanted to confess to her murder."

Mr Barrett is continuing his address.