Man accused of murdering nine-year-old girl appears in court

A man accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl in the NSW Blue Mountains has made two requests while appearing in court.

A man accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl, who was found dead in a barrel in the NSW Blue Mountains, has asked a court to keep him medicated and away from other inmates as he fronts court for the first time.

The 31-year-old appeared in Central Local Court on Tuesday morning wearing a surgical mask and white Everlast hoodie charged with murder.

Court documents say the man allegedly killed the child between 7pm on January 11 and 10am on January 12 at Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains.

Police guarding the entrance to a property in the Blue Mountains on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The 31-year-old man at Surry Hills police station following his arrest. Picture: NSW Police

“Are you [redacted name]?” Magistrate Robert Williams asked the 32-year-old as he appeared in court on the video screen from Surry Hills police cells.

“Yes,” he replied from behind his mask before casting his eyes downward for the entire hearing.

The man’s barrister asked Magistrate Robert Williams to make two orders during the accused killer’s brief and almost silent appearance.

He has been medicated for mental health issues at “high dosages” for “many years”, his barrister told the court, and he would need that medicine while on remand.

The magistrate agreed.

The 31-year-old man at Surry Hills police station following his arrest. Picture: NSW Police

The man’s lawyer outside court in Sydney. Picture: John Grainger

“The other matter I’m instructed to raise relates to his concerns for personal safety in custody,” the barrister said.

“He has asked the court to recommend a no association classification.”

Magistrate Williams told the man he had no power to keep him separate from other prisoners – that would fall to Corrective Services NSW.

He made no application for release on bail and will next appear at Penrith Local Court in mid-March.

Originally published as Man accused of murdering nine-year-old girl appears in court