The man accused of stabbing Queensland woman Shandee Blackburn to death has briefly faced a Brisbane court.
John Peros, 32, faces charges of murder and robbery with wounding after he allegedly killed the 23-year-old as she walked home from work in Mackay in the early hours of the morning in February last year.
Peros appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday wearing a green prison-issue sweater and brown tracksuit pants, and sporting a thick, ungroomed black beard.
His lawyer Andrew Bale did not apply for bail, but applied for the case to be adjourned pending a committal callover.
Magistrate Noel Nunan ordered that Peros be remanded in custody until his next appearance.
Ms Blackburn's mother Vicki Blackburn and other family members were in the court. They all wore black and items of fluorescent yellow, Ms Blackburn's favourite colour.
Police have said Peros was known to Ms Blackburn.
He was arrested and charged after new evidence came to light during coercive hearings held by state's Crime and Corruption Commission over the past six months.
The murder has deeply affected the Mackay community, police have said information from residents had been vital to the investigation.
The case against Peros is due for mention in the Mackay Magistrates Court on October 9.
Outside the court, Vicki Blackburn said it was important to be there for her daughter, but said it was hard to see her accused killer.
"I just felt sick, just felt sick," she told reporters.
But Ms Blackburn said it was a relief to finally have a sense that justice was being served.
"I think tonight will be the first time I can go to bed and feel some peace."
Her other daughter, Shandee's older sister Shannah, said the ordeal had been extremely hard on their family.
"For us we still know there's such a long road to go. But to get to this point, it's a first step on this long road. It's a step in the right direction," she said.
Outside court, Peros's lawyer bristled when asked about details of the police brief against his client.
"How the f*** would I know," Mr Bale said.
He had a similar reaction when asked by a journalist about where Peros was arrested.
"I'm not telling you that either, f*** off," he said.
Mr Bale did say his client was doing reasonably well in the circumstances and had given him instructions to contest all of the charges.
"When the time comes the matter will be litigated in a court, not in the media, thanks."
