Steven Leslie Hainsworth, charged with murdering his aunt Beverley Hanley, fronts court

Accused murder Steven Leslie Hainsworth has appeared in court for the first time, charged with murdering his aunt nine years ago.

• Steven Hainsworth charged with Bev Hanley’s murder

Accused granny killer Steven Leslie Hainsworth has appeared in court for the first time, charged with murdering his aunt nine years ago.

Steven Leslie Hainsworth, 44, of Mildura in Victoria was flanked by two sheriffs officers as he stood in the dock of the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

He only spoke only once, to tell Magistrate Brett Dixon his birth date.

Police allege he murdered Adelaide grandmother Beverley Hanley in her Elizabeth North home of October 6, 2010.

Police believe she was killed between 7.30am and 11am. She suffered severe head injuries, her house had been ransacked and her handbag stolen.

As Hainsworth entered the courtroom packed with Ms Hanley’s supporters and Major Crime detectives, Mr Dixon said he had previously acted for the defendant and asked if there was any objection to him presiding over the case.

Defence lawyer Michael Lutt said his client would not apply for bail. Hainsworth is yet to enter a plea to one count of murder.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Peta Rayson, told the court the matter was complex and sought a six month adjournment for investigators to gather evidence to provide to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Steven Hainsworth arrives in Adelaide after being extradited from Melbourne. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Murder victim Beverley Hanley. Photo: Supplied by family

“We have complex electronic exhibit evidence that’s been required, DNA testing and an extensive list of statements — in excess of 240 — that we’ve compiled,” she said.

“You’ve only had nine years,” Mr Dixon said.

He adjourned the matter to November.

Hainsworth was arrested outside Port Phillip Prison yesterday in Melbourne and faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court where detectives successfully applied for his extradition to Adelaide.

He arrived in Adelaide flanked by detectives aboard a commercial Qantas flight Thursday afternoon ahead of his court appearance today.

Last year, Hainsworth outed himself as a suspect in the murder of Ms Hanley but denied any involvement and declared himself “an innocent man”.

Police allege he was a frequent visitor to her home, which was just two streets from where he lived at the time.

His DNA was allegedly found at the scene on a phone plug pulled from the wall.

Outside court, Ms Hanley’s granddaughter Tasha Hanley thanked police ”working damn hard” over the past nine years “to make sure that we now see justice be done”.

“And that is exactly what we are here for and that is exactly what is going to be done,” she said.

Bev Hanley’s family speaks to the media outside court. Picture: AAP Image/Russell Millard

She said seeing Hainsworth in the dock “made me sick”.

“But I wanted him to know that we were here and that we’re waiting.”

She and other supporters had stood in the courtroom to ensure Hainsworth knew they were there.

“He has no supporters, we’re it,” she said.

Her mother, and Beverley Hanley’s daughter, Robyn Schaefer said she had nothing to say other than “I’m just relieved”.

On Thursday, Ms Schaefer said she had waited “3149 days for this moment” and felt both “elated and relieved” when she learned of her cousin’s arrest.

“I still keep pinching myself. I have never been so happy before in my life,” she said.

Ms Schaefer said she had never given up hope that someone would be held accountable for her mother’s death.

“The longer it went on the more determined I was to keep it out there in people’s minds so no one would forget her,’’ she said.

“I was always confident that one day justice would be done.’’

She said she was also prepared for a lengthy court process.