Aaron John Leslie Bunt, 29, and William John Currey, 32, each charged with murder, have matters mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court

A court has been told progress in the cases of two men charged with the alleged Christmas Eve murder of a 53-year-old man at a North Toowoomba home has dragged on for almost a year due to delays with forensic reports.

An incomplete pathology report was again to blame for the delay in the cases of two men charged with murder arising from the death of a 53-year-old man at a North Toowoomba home.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt, 29, and William John Currey, 32, are each charged with murder arising from the death of Len Andrew Hegarty who was found dead in a residence on Ruthven St in North Toowoomba on Christmas Eve last year.

Police claim Mr Hegarty died of injuries sustained in an alleged assault at the home in the days prior.

Mr Bunt and Mr Currey have been held in custody since their arrests in January 2022 but neither was required to be in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday when their respective matters were mentioned.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt (left) and William John Currey have been charged with the murder of 53-year-old Len Andrew Hegarty, while Debbie Jane Richards has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Neither accused has been required as yet to enter pleas to their respective charges.

A third person charged in relation to the matter, Debbie Jane Richards, 33, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder, has also not been called upon to enter any plea to her charge and she remains on Supreme Court bail.

Police prosecutor Cameron Francis told the court on Thursday that he had made inquiries as to how long it would take for the pathologist’s report to be completed and he had been told another two to three months.

Mr Francis explained that Queensland Health had just the one neuropathologist who was on leave over the Christmas break and asked that the matters be adjourned to February next year.

Magistrate Clare Kelly adjourned the trio’s respective cases for mention back in the same court on February 16 “to make sure there has been some movement” (in the case).

Mr Bunt and Mr Currey were remanded in custody with Ms Richards remaining on Supreme Court bail.