The man accused of raping and murdering Irish woman Jill Meagher in Melbourne, Australia, last September is to contest the charges.
Adrian Ernest Bayley (41) was scheduled for a committal mention at Melbourne magistrates’ court on Thursday morning and appeared briefly by video link from Melbourne Assessment Prison.
During the hearing, Mr Bayley spoke only to indicate that he could hear the court.
Deputy chief magistrate Felicity Broughton confirmed Mr Bayley’s team had been granted the right to cross-examine witnesses at a 1½-day committal hearing scheduled for March 12th and 13th. She also accepted an unopposed application to extend a suppression order banning damaging information about Mr Bayley from being published on the internet.
The order was introduced following Mr Bayley’s arrest last year when defence lawyer Heather Spowart complained material published on the internet could prejudice the trial.
Ms Broughton said the suppression order would be in place until the March hearing.