There was no sign yesterday of the shabby, wild-haired grandfather who first appeared in court last month charged with the murders of his grandchildren and wife and the attempted murder of his daughter in Cowra.

The 69-year-old Irish grandfather, John Walsh, looked fresh-faced and healthy during his brief appearance at Wagga Local Court via audio-visual link from Sydney’s maximum security Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre.

His grey-white hair and beard were neatly trimmed but he was still obviously hard of hearing as he leant forward with his left hand cupped behind his ear the entire time.

A tattoo was visible on his left forearm – his short-sleeved green prison t-shirt doing nothing to cover it.

Representative from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Chris Murnane, requested an eight week adjournment due to the large amount of forensic testing which still needed to be completed.

Magistrate Anthony Murray granted Mr Murnane's application but ordered the fast-tracking of all forensic materials.

He directed Mr Murnane to provide Walsh’s lawyer with the full brief of evidence by mid-October.

Mr Murray set down Walsh’s next appearance in Wagga Local Court via audio-visual link on October 20.

But it will be some time yet until the public finds out exactly what Walsh is accused of.

Because he has not applied for bail, no facts have been tendered to the court and therefore cannot be obtained by the media.

Outside the court, solicitor Mr Allen speculated on the possibility of Walsh’s trial being held in Wagga.

‘The Supreme court sometimes sits in Wagga – less often for criminal but there is the possibility that for convenience or costs that it could be held here,’ he said.