A 47-year-old man has been formally refused bail by a Sydney court after being charged with five counts of murder.
Robert Xie, who did not appear during a briefing hearing at Parramatta Local Court, did not apply for bail through his lawyer.
It was formally refused by the magistrate.
Min "Norman" Lin, 45, Yun Li "Lily" Lin and three other family members were found dead almost two years ago.
They had been beaten to death in a house at North Epping, in Sydney's north west, on July 18, 2009.
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Xie was arrested about 9am on Thursday in North Epping before being taken to Parramatta Police Station for questioning.
Detective Superintendent Cotter said it was one of the largest single homicides in NSW history.
"The investigators have never given up, and today is testimony to their dedication, and the culmination of two years of intense investigation," Superintendent Cotter said in a statement.
The case will next be heard at Central Local Court on July 1.
