Jill Meagher's husband, Tom Meagher, attended on Tuesday the court proceedings that heard the defence's request to adjourn the committal hearing which is expected to begin on Mar. 12.

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Accused man Adrian Ernest Bayley appeared in court only via video link. Two more counts of rape have been added to charges filed against him. Bayley now faces one count of murder and three counts of rape.

Bayley's counsel, Helen Spowart, requested that the committal hearing against Bayley be adjourned for four weeks. The defence meant to delve deeper into some forensics report about DNA, the counsel said. Bayley, according to Spowart, was seeking an independent textile expert to look into Jill Meagher's clothing at the time her body was found.

Magistrate Felicity Broughton heard the request, but refused the application. The defence already had sufficient time to make relevant inquiries in relation to the Jill Meagher case, the court said.

Chief Crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert, SC, vigorously opposed the application, reports the Herald Sun. He pointed out all the information the defence meant to find out could be raised during cross-examination anyway. The committal hearing is expected to last for two days, with six witnesses to be called in.

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Bayley, 41, was arrested after police found a CCTV footage that linked him to the disappearance and subsequent murder of Brunswick woman in September 2012.

Mr Meagher quietly left the court after the proceedings. The Australian press was not able to get any response to their questions.

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