Associates of two men charged with one of Queensland's most enduring unsolved murders have attempted to track down witnesses ahead of their committal, a court has heard.
Gary Reginald Dubois, 68, and Vincent O'Dempsey, 77, were last October charged with the murders of 34-year-old Barbara McCulkin and her daughters Vicki and Leanne who vanished from their Highgate Hill home in 1974.
The pair was denied bail in March after a Supreme Court judge agreed there was a risk Dubois would interfere with witnesses if released.
Witnesses claim the men confessed to playing a role in the triple murder and at least one of those has been offered indemnity.
The Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday heard legal argument on whether to suppress the names of witnesses prior to a committal hearing in November.
"The concern is, obviously the two accused are in custody, (but) it's a concern that there are associates of these people," Prosecutor David Meredith said.
"The concern is that there have been attempts, already, to locate some of these witnesses, and the information for that is through informants ... people have been trying to find out where various people live."
But Mr O'Dempsey's lawyer, Terry O'Gorman, said any publicity could prove valuable for the defence.
"If someone hears that a particular witness says something and that person is aware of something contrary, then if that's publicised that person may come forward," he said.
The case took another dramatic twist during the bail application in March with revelations a witness claimed the husband and father of the victims, Billy McCulkin, made a confession on his deathbed in 2011.
It's been alleged Mrs McCulkin was murdered because Billy knew who was responsible for the infamous Whiskey Au Go Go night club bombing in 1973, which killed 15 people.
Both Dubois and O'Dempsey deny playing any part in the crime.
The bodies of Mrs McCulkin, Vicki, 13, and Leanne, 11, have never been found.
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