The 36-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Geelong Magistrates' Court via video link from Barwon Prison on Tuesday morning.
Williams died on Monday afternoon, after he was attacked in an exercise area of the prison, southwest of Melbourne.
He suffered serious head injuries, and could not be revived after he went into cardiac arrest in the jail's maximum security Acacia unit.
Dressed in orange prison overalls and in handcuffs, the man accused of his murder spoke only to confirm he could hear Magistrate Ron Saines during the brief hearing.
Police investigation under way Prosecutor John Weigl said a longer-than-usual period of time was required for police to compile a brief of evidence in the case.
Mr Saines remanded the man in custody until a committal mention on July 27.
The magistrate urged the media to show restraint in its reporting of the matter, so as not to impede the accused man's right to a fair trial.
Williams, 39, was serving life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 35 years after pleading guilty to ordering the murders of three underworld rivals and a failed conspiracy to murder a fourth man.
He pleaded guilty in 2007 of murdering underworld figures Jason Moran, Lewis Moran and Mark Mallia.
He was also convicted of the murder of drug dealer Michael Marshall and multiple drugs charges.
