The man accused of the sexual assault and murder of Sydney teenager Mahmoud Hrouk may be placed in protective custody because of the brutal nature of his alleged crimes, a magistrate says.
Ayman Terkmani, 22, was reporting for bail on drug supply offences at Fairfield police station on Thursday afternoon when homicide detectives took him into custody.
They will allege he had something to eat with 16-year-old Mahmoud at Villawood McDonald's, in the city's southwest, on a Saturday night two months ago.
That night or in the early hours of May 17, police will allege Terkmani sexually assaulted the teenager, bashed him and left his bloodied and half-naked body in a vacant house on Belmore Street, Fairfield East - walking distance from the Hrouk family home.
The family of the young victim made the distressing discovery on the morning of May 17, after Mahmoud failed to return home and relatives decided to scour local streets.
Mahmoud's family have told AAP he telephoned his mother on the night he disappeared asking to be picked up, and that he said he was on Mitchell Street in Fairfield East before the phone call cut out.
It is understood police will allege Mahmoud was seen riding his bike around Fairfield East, including on Mitchell Street, in the hours before his disappearance.
Court documents say this was the street where Mahmoud's alleged killer lived before he was taken into custody.
Terkmani did not emerge from the cells when his matter was mentioned in Fairfield Local Court on Friday and there was no application for bail, which was formally refused by Magistrate Eve Wynhausen.
But solicitor Fadi Abbas says his client plans to fight the charges.
"He strenuously denies the allegations against him," he told the court.
He argued on Friday afternoon that Terkmani's name should be suppressed, saying media attention could hurt his chances of getting a fair trial.
He also said Terkmani's safety could be threatened while he remains in custody.
"If the other inmates know who he is, his life may be in danger," Mr Abbas said.
But Ms Wynhausen rejected the application on both grounds.
"Certainly these charges are very serious charges," she said.
"The accused is in custody. I would imagine in the circumstances he may well be placed in a form of protective custody ...
"I'm not persuaded, nor am I satisfied, that it is necessary to make an order under the legislation for a suppression order or a non-publication order."
Earlier on Friday, Terkmani's supporters jostled with members of the media outside the court, swearing and hurling one reporter's microphone at nearby parked cars.
One man, who identified himself as the alleged murderer's brother, told Sky News the 22-year-old was innocent and he would support him "100 per cent".
Mahmoud has been described by loved ones as a cheeky and hard-working boy, an aspiring football player who dreamed of running his own construction company.
Terkmani is next due in court in Campbelltown on Wednesday.
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