A Canberra magistrate has ordered the Australian Federal Police to foot the bill for the court appearance of a man accused of murder after a series of delays in the case being heard.
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The prosecution case against Christopher David Navin will not be ready until August, the ACT Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.
Navin has been charged with murder over the stabbing death of Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber, in Lyneham, in December. His lawyers have indicated he will plead not guilty.
The 27-year-old, who is in police custody, wore grey tracksuit pants and a blue hooded jumper and did not speak during the brief appearance.
It was the fourth time Navin's case had come before the court since his arrest and he was expected to learn whether the matter would go to trial in the higher court.
However, prosecutors asked for another extension because they needed more time to complete the brief of evidence.
Prosecutor Emilija Beljic said they were waiting for police statements, a mental impairment report and forensic results.
Navin's solicitor Peter Woodhouse said he could only "voice my displeasure" at the delay.
"Here we are nearly four months after he first appeared in court, we indicated he would plead not guilty and now he has no choice but to remain in [the Alexander Maconochie Centre] for the next two months."
Ms Beljic said more time was needed than usual because the defendant faced a murder charge.
"This brief is at least 20 times the size of an average brief," she said.
Mr Woodhouse told the court the AFP should be made to pay Navin's legal costs for Wednesday's appearance.
Magistrate Robert Cook said he understood the defence team's frustrations but the matter was serious and complex. "These issues do take time and full consideration and it's important the brief be right on first occasion," he said.
He awarded legal costs to Navin for the appearance.
Friends found Mr Sofer-Schreiber dead in his home with multiple stab wounds on Saturday, December 28.
Detectives raided a property in Grafton, in northern NSW, as part of a seven-week investigation into his death.
It is understood Navin and Mr Sofer-Schreiber were acquainted.
The matter is due back in court on August 14.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions should foot the bill for Christopher Navin's appearance in court.
