The Supreme court heard from Defence counsel Graham Turnbull SC.
In court Mr Xie was attentive, took notes, and appeared tired as Mr Turnbull wrapped up his opening address.
The Defence highlighted the amount of circumstantial evidence that will be presented by the crown during the trial.
Mr Turnbull outlined several points that the defence will argue, including the lack of evidence of a murder weapon, no conclusive time of death of the victims, the bodies were moved, and that Mr Xie has never admitted to the murders.
The Defence also raised the question Lily Lin's activities on the night of the murder.
"What she (Lily Lin) did and where she went that Friday night is a matter for this trial" said Mr Turnbull.
He also raised the evidence gathered after the murders, when Robert and his wife Kathy saw the bodies of the Lin family the following day.
"We understand there was a lengthy period of analysis of the crime scene" Mr Turnbull said.
Police interviews with Robert and Kathy were collected over 'weeks, months, years' later, the Defence said. "Memory will have a role to play in this"
Mr Turnbull also discussed the Crown prosecutor's "Witness A", a prison mate who alledgedly spoke regularly with Robert about the Lin murders and recorded some of their conversations.
The Defence described Witness A as "a violent man" and "a physically intimidating man". He added that Mr Xie was in prison conditions that were isolating and fearful.
He also called on the jury to consider that many witnesses providing testimony in the case do not speak English as their first language.
The first witness is expected to be called this afternoon.
Xie has pleaded not guilty.
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