Luke John Cotterill, 19, of Londonderry, will stand trial on charges of murder, attempted escape, and an associated charge of assault a law officer.

Cotterill appeared via audio visual linkup from a Sydney jail before Bathurst Local Court Magistrate Jan Stevenson yesterday.

Police allege Cotterill murdered Michelle Morrissey, 19, of Cox St, Mudgee, in her home on March 27, 2010.

During his appearance, Cotterill, who did not have a legal representative, told the court he had spoken to Legal Aid on Friday, saying “they couldn’t be here today because they didn’t have enough notice”.

“They told me to apologise to the court and ask for the shortest possible adjournment,” he said.

Cotterill continued, saying he was not eligible for Legal Aid, who had asked his family to pay $17,000 towards the cost of his legal representation.

Cotterill told the court his family “couldn’t afford it”.

However, magistrate Jan Stevenson said the matter was almost 12 months old, and it was not in Cotterill’s best interests, nor anyone else’s, to have the matter adjourned.

She committed the matter to the Supreme Court so it could be brought before a judge, and secondly so Cotterill’s legal representation could be sorted out.

“Until it gets there [to the Supreme Court] it’s not going to be resolved and it’s too old to have sitting here,” she said.

The office of the DPP told the court police will allege forensic evidence placed Cotterill at the scene of the murder. Fingerprints were found in the victim’s blood, and the accused’s DNA matched that found at the crime scene.

The office of the DPP said police allege admissions had also been made by the accused to prison inmates admitting he was involved in the murder.

The matter has been set down for arraignment in the Sydney Supreme Court at 10am on April 1, 2011.

Bail was refused.